By Desire Tshuma
JOHANNESBURG — Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, youngest son of the late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, has avoided jail in South Africa after pleading guilty to firearms and immigration charges and agreeing to be deported to Zimbabwe. His co-accused and cousin, Tobias Matonhodze, was sentenced to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder and other charges.
The pair appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 25 April, for sentencing over a February 2026 shooting at their Hyde Park residence in Johannesburg.
Chatunga, 28, pleaded guilty to contravening the Firearms Act by pointing a firearm and to violating the Immigration Act for being in South Africa illegally. He did not plead guilty to attempted murder.
Matonhodze, 33, pleaded guilty to five charges: attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, illegal immigration, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition. He admitted to shooting security guard Sipho Mahlangu twice in the back during the February 19 incident. The firearm used has never been recovered. 03eec8a8
State prosecutors had pushed for 12 months’ direct imprisonment for Chatunga for pointing a firearm and another 12 months for violating firearms regulations. For Matonhodze, prosecutors sought 5 years for attempted murder, 12 months for unlawful possession of a firearm, 12 months for defeating the ends of justice, plus additional penalties totaling over seven years
The defence, led by advocate Laurence Hodes, argued for non-custodial sentences, citing no prior convictions, compensation paid to the victim, and willingness to be deported. Chatunga and Matonhodze had already paid R250,000 to Mahlangu, with R150,000 still outstanding of a R400,000 total. Hodes told the court the pair were willing to cover their own deportation costs back to Zimbabwe.
The court ultimately sentenced Tobias Matonhodze to 3 years direct imprisonment. Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe received a suspended sentence and deportation, accepting immediate removal from South Africa instead of jail time.
Investigating officer Sergeant Lucky Ramchunder opposed leniency, saying both accused “showed no remorse” and failed to disclose the whereabouts of the firearm. “Both the accused were there when the firearm was fired and injured the victim… The accused show no remorse assisting the police in any way to point out where the firearm is,” Ramchunder said.
The defence countered that multiple people were at the property and the weapon could have been removed by someone else, urging the court to consider partial compensation as a sign of accountability.
Mahlangu was shot twice in the back while trying to flee and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition. He has undergone three surgeries and was diagnosed with PTSD.
Chatunga and Matonhodze dropped their bail bid in March after prosecutors said they would oppose release based on illegal immigration status. They then entered plea negotiations with the State.
This is not the first time the Mugabe family has faced legal trouble in South Africa. In 2017, former first lady Grace Mugabe was accused of attacking a model with an extension cord but left the country under diplomatic immunity.
The case has sparked debate about accountability and privilege, with legal observers saying the outcome could shape public confidence in how high-profile cases are handled. 691b
Netizens voiced opposition to any deportation deal. “He’s a danger to himself. Releasing him will be detrimental to himself and others,” one user wrote. Others said: “The case must go to trial, and if Mugabe’s son is guilty, then he must serve time in prison like every convict in South Africa”.
With sentencing concluded, Chatunga Mugabe has been deported to Zimbabwe.
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