Bellarmine Mugabe, the youngest son of Zimbabwe's late former leader Robert Mugabe, has pleaded guilty to charges of pointing a firearm and illegally being in South Africa. Mugabe entered guilty pleas to the two charges after he was arrested in February following the shooting of a 23-year-old man at his home in Johannesburg.
The 28-year-old has been held in custody alongside co-accused Tobias Matonhodze, and appeared at the court in Alexandra on Friday. Lawyers for the men told the court they were prepared to return to their native Zimbabwe at their own expense if they do not receive a custodial sentence.
Matonhodze, 33, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, illegal immigration, and possession of ammunition. Mugabe, who was also previously charged with attempted murder, spoke only to confirm that he understood the charges and to enter his pleas after he had reached a deal with prosecutors.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) did not clarify the status of the attempted murder charge against him. Both defendants were arrested on 19 February following a call to police regarding Mugabe's home in the upmarket Johannesburg suburb of Hyde Park, where a man, believed to be a security guard, was shot and later hospitalized in critical condition.
Prosecutors indicated that the shooting followed a dispute among the three men inside the property, leading to the victim being shot twice in the back while trying to escape. Authorities are still seeking the firearm involved in the incident.
Sentencing is set for 24 April and has faced multiple delays in court, including postponements of Mugabe's bail hearings. This incident marks yet another brush with the law for Mugabe, who has previously faced allegations of assault in Zimbabwe. He is one of two sons of Robert Mugabe and Grace Mugabe. Robert Mugabe had a long and controversial reign as Zimbabwe's president until he was ousted in a coup in 2017.
The 28-year-old has been held in custody alongside co-accused Tobias Matonhodze, and appeared at the court in Alexandra on Friday. Lawyers for the men told the court they were prepared to return to their native Zimbabwe at their own expense if they do not receive a custodial sentence.
Matonhodze, 33, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, illegal immigration, and possession of ammunition. Mugabe, who was also previously charged with attempted murder, spoke only to confirm that he understood the charges and to enter his pleas after he had reached a deal with prosecutors.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) did not clarify the status of the attempted murder charge against him. Both defendants were arrested on 19 February following a call to police regarding Mugabe's home in the upmarket Johannesburg suburb of Hyde Park, where a man, believed to be a security guard, was shot and later hospitalized in critical condition.
Prosecutors indicated that the shooting followed a dispute among the three men inside the property, leading to the victim being shot twice in the back while trying to escape. Authorities are still seeking the firearm involved in the incident.
Sentencing is set for 24 April and has faced multiple delays in court, including postponements of Mugabe's bail hearings. This incident marks yet another brush with the law for Mugabe, who has previously faced allegations of assault in Zimbabwe. He is one of two sons of Robert Mugabe and Grace Mugabe. Robert Mugabe had a long and controversial reign as Zimbabwe's president until he was ousted in a coup in 2017.
