The son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe made a brief appearance in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing serious charges linked to a shooting in Hyde Park.
Bellarmine Mugabe appeared alongside co-accused Tobias Mugabe Matonhdze. The two men stood in the dock in chains, appearing calm as the State outlined its case. Their matter was postponed to 3 March 2026 for a formal bail application. Both remain in custody, with the State opposing their release.
They face charges of attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, and possession of a firearm, despite police not yet recovering the weapon allegedly used in the incident.
The pair were represented by legal counsel, with defence lawyer Sinenhlanhla Mnguni telling the court that additional charges had only been presented to the defence on Monday morning.
“There are charges we need to investigate further as a defence team,” Mnguni said, declining to comment on whether Matonhdze is related to Mugabe.
Earlier confusion marked the suspects’ transfer between courts, with the pair initially taken to the Randburg Magistrate’s Court before being redirected to Alexandra, where the matter was ultimately heard.
Police confirmed that Mugabe had collapsed in custody on Friday morning, but his legal team said his condition has since stabilised.
Gauteng police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the arrests followed a shooting incident in Hyde Park.
“The two men that were brought in for questioning in relation to a shooting that occurred at Hyde Park have been officially arrested and are expected to appear before the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court,” she said.
At the centre of the case is the missing firearm believed to have been used in the shooting. While cartridges were recovered at the scene, the weapon has not been found.
Police divers searched a swimming pool at the Hyde Park property on Friday, but no firearm was recovered.
A source close to the investigation claims the gun may have been removed from the scene before police arrived. According to the source, individuals who provide private protection services to Mugabe and other foreign nationals were among the first to respond after the incident.
“One of them took the gun,” the source alleged, adding that the removal may have followed phone calls made shortly after the shooting.
Police have not confirmed these claims, and it remains unclear whether more suspects could be linked to the missing firearm.
Monday’s court appearance was largely procedural, focusing on the formal reading of charges and postponement. More details are expected to emerge during the upcoming bail hearing, where the State is likely to present evidence and arguments against the accused’s release.
Meanwhile, some members of the public have warned authorities against giving the high-profile suspects any special treatment, calling for the law to take its course without fear or favour.
