The youngest son of Zimbabwe’s former President Robert Mugabe has been officially charged with attempted murder following a brief court appearance in South Africa.
Bellarmine Mugabe, aged 28, was detained last week after a 23-year-old man was shot and critically wounded at a property in an upscale area of Johannesburg. Mugabe was arrested along with his bodyguard, and neither has publicly commented on the charges.
In court, Mugabe, dressed in black, appeared composed as proceedings unfolded.
Bellarmine is the youngest child of Robert and his second wife, Grace Mugabe. Robert Mugabe, who passed away in 2019, served as Zimbabwe’s president for 37 years before being ousted in 2017 at the age of 93.
At the scene in Hyde Park, where the incident took place, police discovered bullet casings but have yet to recover the weapon used in the shooting.
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In addition to the attempted murder charge, Mugabe and his bodyguard, Tobias Tamirepi Matonhodze, 33, are facing further charges related to obstructing justice, stemming from the missing firearm, as per prosecutors.
The victim remains in critical condition at a hospital.
Bellarmine Mugabe’s attorney, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, spoke to the media after the court session, stating that his client is in good health while still in custody.
According to prosecutors, the shooting occurred after a confrontation between the victim and the accused inside Mugabe’s residence.
As the victim attempted to flee, he was allegedly shot in the back and collapsed outside the property’s gate, which was subsequently closed, as outlined by the National Prosecuting Authority.
The case has been postponed to March 3, when a bail application will be heard.
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