THE youngest son of Zimbabwe’s late former President Robert Mugabe has been formally charged with attempted murder at a brief appearance in a South African court.
Bellarmine Mugabe, 28, was arrested last week after a 23-year-old man was shot and injured at a property in an upmarket suburb of Johannesburg last Thursday. He was then taken into custody alongside his bodyguard – neither man has commented on the charges.
Appearing in court, dressed in black, Mugabe looked calm during the proceedings.
Bellarmine is the youngest son of Robert and his second wife Grace Mugabe. Robert Mugabe, who died in 2019, led Zimbabwe for 37 years before being forced out of power at the age of 93 in 2017.
Searching the property in Hyde Park where the shooting happened, police have found bullet cartridges but no firearm so far.
Mugabe and Tobias Tamirepi Matonhodze, 33, also face additional charges, including defeating the ends of justice, which relates to the missing firearm, prosecutors say.
The victim is in hospital and in a critical condition.
Speaking outside court, Mugabe’s lawyer Sinenhlanhla Mnguni provided an update on his well-being, telling reporters his client was “fine” as he remains in custody.
Describing the circumstances of the shooting, prosecutors allege that “an altercation occurred between the victim and the accused inside Mugabe’s home”.
While attempting to flee the victim was then allegedly “shot in the back and collapsed outside the gate” and the gate was then closed, according to a statement from the National Prosecuting Authority.
The case against Mugabe and Matonhodze was postponed until 3 March when a bail application will be made.
