South African prosecutors have asked a court to impose direct imprisonment on Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, aft...
South African prosecutors have asked a court to impose direct imprisonment on Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, after criminal proceedings in Johannesburg. Sentencing was postponed to April 29 by the Alexandra Magistrates Court.
The state is seeking a total of two years in prison for Mugabe. Prosecutors requested 12 months for pointing a firearm and another 12 months for being in South Africa illegally. Local reports say Mugabe previously entered guilty pleas on both charges.
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The firearm charge relates to a separate incident that reportedly occurred shortly before Mugabe’s security guard, Sipho Mahlangu, was shot at Mugabe’s Hyde Park residence on February 19. Authorities have linked the broader matter to incidents under investigation in Johannesburg.
Mugabe appeared alongside co-accused Tobias Matonhodze, who pleaded guilty to more serious offences. Prosecutors are seeking five years for attempted murder, 12 years for illegal firearm possession, 12 years for defeating the ends of justice, a fine for ammunition possession and 12 months for immigration violations.
That means Matonhodze faces a substantially heavier sentence if the court grants the prosecution request. The most serious counts alone carry a potential combined 24 years sought by the state.
During proceedings, the investigating officer told the court that Sipho Mahlangu had already received R250,000 in compensation. A further R150,000 is still said to be outstanding under the agreed settlement.
The officer urged the court to impose a firm sentence, arguing that neither accused had disclosed the whereabouts of the firearm allegedly used in the shooting. The weapon has not yet been recovered, according to prosecutors.
“Both accused showed no remorse,” the officer reportedly told the court, adding that failure to produce the firearm amounted to ongoing non-cooperation.
The defence opposed imprisonment and asked for non-custodial sentences. Lawyers argued that several other people were present at the Hyde Park property during the incident and said the firearm could have been removed by another person.
Defence counsel also cited the compensation paid to Mahlangu as evidence that accountability had been shown. Prosecutors, however, noted that the full amount has not yet been paid.
Bellarmine Mugabe has previously attracted media attention in South Africa over legal and security-related controversies. His father, Robert Mugabe, ruled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades before being removed from office in 2017.
The Alexandra Magistrates Court postponed the matter to April 29, when sentencing is expected to be delivered unless there is a further delay.
Legal analysts say the case is being closely watched because it involves immigration offences, firearm allegations and a high-profile defendant with regional political links.
If a custodial sentence is imposed, Mugabe could face immediate imprisonment, depending on the court’s final ruling and any subsequent legal applications.
