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Son of Former Zimbabwe Leader Faces Attempted Murder Charges in South Africa

Monday, February 23, 2026 at 8:18 AM

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the youngest son of Zimbabwe's late former president Robert Mugabe, made his first court appearance in South Africa Monday on attempted murder charges. The case stems from a shooting incident last week that left a gardener hospitalized.

JOHANNESBURG – The youngest child of Zimbabwe’s late former president Robert Mugabe made his initial court appearance Monday in South Africa, facing charges of attempted murder following a shooting incident that injured a groundskeeper at a Johannesburg residence where he had been living.

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe was not required to submit a plea during the hearing. The proceedings involving him and another defendant have been delayed until March 3 to permit additional investigation work.

The court determined that Bellarmine Mugabe, thought to be in his late twenties, will stay behind bars until his upcoming hearing date.

The two defendants are also facing charges related to obstructing justice, since authorities have not yet located the firearm believed to have been used in the incident.

Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, representing Bellarmine Mugabe, refused to discuss his client’s stance regarding the accusations, stating he would provide a response to Reuters at a later time.

According to a police representative, the groundskeeper continues to receive medical treatment at a hospital after being shot on Thursday.

Robert Mugabe led Zimbabwe for nearly four decades following the country’s independence from British rule in 1980. Military forces removed him from power in 2017, and he passed away in 2019 at a Singapore medical facility at age 95.

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