JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — The flamboyant lifestyle of the Mugabe family has taken a dark and legal turn as Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, 28, appeared before the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Monday, February 23, 2026. The youngest son of Zimbabwe’s former autocratic leader, Robert Mugabe, is facing grave charges including attempted murder, following a violent incident at his high-end residence in the Hyde Park suburb of Johannesburg.
The Incident at Hyde Park The trouble began on the morning of Thursday, February 19, 2026. According to reports from the South African Police Service (SAPS), an altercation occurred inside the Mugabe residence between the 28-year-old Bellarmine and a 23-year-old employee, identified as a gardener at the property. The disagreement escalated rapidly, resulting in the employee being shot in the back as he allegedly tried to flee the premises.
Witnesses report that after the victim collapsed outside the gate, one of the accused—either Bellarmine or his co-defendant, 33-year-old Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze—approached the bleeding man, took the gate remote from him, and closed the gate, leaving the victim helpless on the pavement. A neighboring security guard discovered the injured man and alerted the authorities. The victim was rushed to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition under police guard.
Court Appearance and Charges In court on Monday, Bellarmine and Matonhodze appeared dressed in black, looking somber as the prosecutor outlined the charges. Beyond the primary charge of attempted murder, the duo faces additional counts of:
Obstruction of Justice: Authorities allege the suspects intentionally hid the firearm used in the shooting. Despite a three-day search by the K-9 unit and forensic teams, the gun has yet to be recovered.
Illegal Possession of Ammunition: Bullet casings were found at the scene, but no license for the weapon was presented.
Theft: Relating to the seizure of the gate remote from the victim.
Immigration Violations: There is ongoing investigation into whether the suspects were in South Africa legally.
A Legacy of Controversy The arrest is another chapter in the controversial history of the Mugabe children. Bellarmine and his older brother, Robert Jr., became infamous in the late 2010s for their "lavish" and "untouchable" personas, often posting videos dousing $60,000 watches in expensive champagne while their home country of Zimbabwe suffered through economic collapse. This incident also echoes the 2017 scandal involving their mother, Grace "Gucci" Grace Mugabe, who was accused of assaulting a South African model with an extension cord in a Sandton hotel.
The state prosecutor, Lufuno Maphiri, successfully argued for a seven-day postponement to verify the suspects' legal status and continue the search for the missing firearm. The court has scheduled the formal bail application for March 3, 2026. Until then, Bellarmine Mugabe remains in custody at the Bramley Police Station.
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