A magistrate’s court in Johannesburg has sentenced Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the youngest son of late Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, to pay a total fine of R600,000 following his conviction on firearm-related and immigration offences.
The court ruled that Mugabe must pay R400,000 or serve 24 months in prison for unlawfully pointing a firearm. He was also handed an additional R200,000 fine or 18 months’ imprisonment for violating South Africa’s immigration laws by staying in the country illegally.
In addition to the financial penalties, the court ordered that he be deported to Zimbabwe after the completion of sentencing procedures.
The judgment followed a guilty plea entered under a Section 112 agreement, allowing both the prosecution and defence to resolve the case without proceeding to a full trial. This expedited the legal process and brought a swift conclusion to the matter.
Mugabe was charged alongside his co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, in connection with a violent incident that occurred in February 2026 at a residence in Johannesburg’s Hyde Park area. The incident reportedly involved the shooting and injury of a man believed to be a gardener employed at the property.
During court proceedings, Mugabe admitted to the firearm offence and the immigration violation. His co-accused also pleaded guilty, but to a broader set of charges, including attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, defeating the ends of justice, and additional immigration offences.
Prosecutors described the case as a serious escalation of violence, which led to police intervention and the arrest of both men. They have remained in custody since their arrest.
The case experienced several delays before reaching its conclusion. Notably, proceedings were temporarily halted in March due to a power outage at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court, forcing a postponement.
