Mugabe's Son Admits Firearm Charge and Illegal Presence in South Africa

Bellarmine Mugabe, the youngest son of Zimbabwe’s former President Robert Mugabe, has pleaded guilty to charges of pointing a firearm and illegal presence in South Africa. The 28-year-old was apprehended in February following a shooting at his Johannesburg residence which left a 23-year-old man injured.

Appearing at the Alexandra court, Mugabe, along with co-accused Tobias Matonhodze, 33, entered their pleas. Matonhodze admitted to attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, illegal immigration, and ammunition possession. Initial attempted murder charges against Mugabe were dropped after Matonhodze confessed to firing the weapon.

Both men were arrested on 19 February after police were called to Mugabe's upscale Hyde Park home. A security guard was hospitalised in a critical condition after being shot twice in the back while reportedly attempting to flee an argument within the property. The firearm involved in the incident remains unrecovered.

Lawyers for the accused stated that their clients were prepared to fund their return to Zimbabwe if non-custodial sentences are imposed. Sentencing proceedings have been postponed until 24 April.

This is not Mugabe’s first encounter with legal issues. In 2024, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer in Zimbabwe and subsequently had an arrest warrant issued for failing to appear in court. A year later, he faced charges for assaulting a security guard at a mining site, a case that is reportedly still ongoing. Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years before a 2017 coup, died in 2019.