By Micah Jonah, February 23, 2026
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, youngest son of former Zimbabwean leader, Robert Mugabe, on Monday appeared before a South African court on a charge of attempted murder.
The charge follows the shooting and wounding of a gardener last week at a Johannesburg mansion where Mugabe had been staying.
The matter came up at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court, where the accused was not asked to enter a plea. The case was postponed until March 3 to allow for further investigations.
Mugabe, believed to be in his late 20s, will remain in custody pending his next court appearance. A second suspect is also facing charges in connection with the incident.
Both men are additionally charged with defeating the ends of justice, as police have yet to recover the firearm allegedly used in the shooting.
A lawyer representing Mugabe declined to comment on his client’s position regarding the allegations.
Police confirmed that the injured gardener remains hospitalized following the Thursday shooting.
Robert Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years after the country gained independence from Britain in 1980. He was removed from office in 2017 and later died in 2019 at the age of 95.
