Bellarmine Mugabe Admits Guilt in South African Shooting Case

Robert Mugabe’s youngest son, Bellarmine, has admitted guilt for brandishing a firearm and overstaying his legal residency in South Africa. The 28-year-old was arrested in February after a shooting incident at his Johannesburg home. He appeared in court in Alexandra alongside co-defendant Tobias Matonhodze, who also faced multiple charges. The case has been delayed several times since Mugabe’s detention, with a sentencing hearing rescheduled for April 24.

The incident occurred on February 19 when police responded to a disturbance at Mugabe’s residence in the affluent Hyde Park neighborhood. A 23-year-old man, identified as a security guard, was critically injured after being shot twice in the back as he fled the scene. Prosecutors stated the attack followed a disagreement among the three individuals present. Despite a thorough search of the home, the weapon used in the shooting remains unidentified.

“They’re ready to return to Zimbabwe voluntarily if no prison time is imposed,” stated the defense team, addressing the court during the proceedings.

Tobias Matonhodze, 33, has already accepted responsibility for attempted murder, obstructing justice, illegal immigration, and holding ammunition without authorization. Bellarmine Mugabe, however, only confirmed his awareness of the charges after negotiating with prosecutors. The National Prosecuting Authority has not yet clarified the status of the attempted murder charge against him.

This marks another legal challenge for Mugabe, who previously faced arrests in 2024 and 2025. In 2024, he was detained in Beitbridge for allegedly attacking a police officer, later released on bail but re-arrested when he missed a court date. A year later, he was charged with assaulting a security guard at a mining site near Harare. His wife, Grace, is the mother of both sons, and the former president ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years before being removed in a 2017 coup.

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