Bellarmine Mugabe Avoids Jail Time for Hyde Park Shooting, Will Be Deported Back to Zimbabwe

• Bellarmine Mugabe and Tobias Matonhodze found out their fate following a shooting at a Hyde Park residence in Johannesburg
• Bellarmine, the son of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, escaped jail time but was fined after pleading guilty to two counts
• Matonhodze, who pleaded guilty to the big offences, will be deported back to Zimbabwe after spending time in jail

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

GAUTENG – Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe has avoided jail time following a shooting at his Hyde Park residence, but his cousin will be imprisoned.

Bellarmine, the son of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, and his cousin, Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze, appeared before the Alexandra Regional Court for sentencing on 29 April 2026.

The duo pleaded guilty to numerous charges following the shooting of 23-year-old Sipho Mahlangu on Thursday, 19 February 2026. Mahlangu was reportedly shot twice in the back at the residence and was paid to keep quiet about the incident.

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Mugabe fined R600,000 for two offences

On 29 April 2026, Magistrate Renier Boshoff read out the sentences for the two, noting that Mugabe was lucky as it was not known whether his cousin took the fall for the shooting.

The former Zimbabwean President’s son was then fined R400,000 for pointing a firearm and R200,000 for contravening the country’s immigration laws. The magistrate also noted that Mugabe will be escorted straight to the airport and deported back to Zimbabwe.

Matonhodze to be imprisoned

His cousin, who pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Mahlangu, defeating the ends of justice, possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition, was sentenced to imprisonment.

Matonhodze was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for count one, 12 months imprisonment for count two, three years imprisonment for count three and 12 months imprisonment for count four.

His sentences will run concurrently, and he will be deported once he has served his time. The magistrate did credit him, saying that in a case where the victim did not press charges, it was easy for the perpetrator to remain quiet and avoid being found guilty. He noted that Matonhodze confessed to the shooting despite this.

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What you need to know about the shooting:

• Police reported that a scuffle between the SAPS and the suspects broke out before Mugabe was arrested.
• The South African Police Service (SAPS) confiscated a vehicle, which was found outside the premises.
• Bellarmine and Tobias abandoned their bail application, instead opting to enter into a plea deal with the State.
• The legal team for Mugabe and Matonhodze asked for suspended sentences for both after they pleaded guilty.
• Sipho Mahlangu was paid R250,000 and promised more in exchange for remaining silent about the shooting.

Grace Mugabe reacted to her son's arrest

Briefly News also reported how Grace Mugabe reacted after her son was arrested in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.

The wife of the late Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, was not pleased with the conduct of her son.

Social media users expressed mixed opinions, noting that there was a warrant of arrest for Grace as well in South Africa.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News