Mugabe’s Son Deported from South Africa After Shocking Shooting Scandal at Family Mansion
South African authorities have deported the youngest son of former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe following a high-profile court ruling that comes in the wake of a violent incident at the Mugabe family residence in Johannesburg.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, 28, was ordered to leave the country after being fined a total of 600,000 rand (£26,770) over separate offences, including immigration violations and the use of a replica firearm in a threatening manner.
The ruling follows a dramatic sequence of events stemming from a February 19 shooting at the family’s upscale home in Johannesburg, where an employee was shot in the back under circumstances that initially triggered attempted murder charges.
Mugabe and his cousin, Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze, 33, were both arrested and charged in connection with the incident. However, the case took a significant turn earlier this month when Matonhodze pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, defeating the ends of justice, and breaching immigration laws.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, the court sentenced Matonhodze to three years in prison, noting the seriousness of the offences and the fact that the weapon used in the shooting was never recovered.
While Mugabe avoided jail time in relation to the shooting, the court found him guilty in a separate 2023 incident involving the brandishing of a toy gun in a manner likely to cause fear or be mistaken for a real firearm.
Legal analysts say the deportation underscores South Africa’s tightening stance on foreign nationals involved in criminal activity. “The courts are sending a clear message that immigration laws and public safety will be enforced without exception,” one legal expert noted.
Authorities have not disclosed whether Mugabe will face further legal consequences upon his return to Zimbabwe.
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