Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the youngest son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, will be deported to Zimbabwe on Wednesday after pleading guilty to firearm and immigration offences.
While his 33-year-old cousin, Tobias Matonhodze, was sentenced to direct imprisonment, Mugabe avoided jail after the court imposed hefty fines that will ultimately see him deported. This is linked to a February 2026 shooting incident in Johannesburg.
The matter was finalised at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court, where both accused appeared following the violent incident earlier this year.
Mugabe pleaded guilty to pointing a firearm and contravening South Africa’s Immigration Act for being in the country illegally. The court sentenced him to a R400,000 fine or 24 months’ imprisonment for the firearm offence, and a further R200,000 or 18 months’ imprisonment for the immigration violation. He is expected to be deported once all administrative processes are completed.
Matonhodze was not as fortunate. The court imposed multiple custodial sentences on him: 12 months on one count, another 12 months on a second count, three years on a third count, and 12 months on a fourth. All sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will effectively serve a three-year prison term.
Magistrate Renier Boshoff said the court had considered the guilty pleas and surrounding circumstances but stressed that serious offences involving firearms usually attract longer sentences. “You have placed yourself at the mercy of the court by pleading guilty,” Boshoff told Matonhodze, adding, “you’re not going to escape jail today.”
He described the outcome as a “merciful sentence” but emphasised accountability, noting that both accused would be escorted by the investigating officer. The magistrate also expressed hope that the outcome would serve as a lesson.
According to the defence, represented by lawyer Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, the victim has already received R400,000 in compensation as part of the plea agreement.
However, controversy continues to surround the case, particularly over the firearm used in the incident. The weapon has still not been recovered. A source told African Times that it was allegedly removed from the scene before police arrived, raising concerns about the integrity of evidence collection.
The ruling has sparked debate on social media, with some users questioning the fairness of the justice system and the use of plea deals in high-profile cases. Others compared the outcome to past cases involving political figures such as EFF leader Julius Malema, who was recently sentenced to five years in prison for firing a rifle in public and no one was harmed, reigniting public discussion on consistency in sentencing.
Despite public scrutiny, the court has finalised the matter, with Mugabe set to be deported and Matonhodze beginning his prison term immediately.
