“You put yourself at the mercy of this court by pleading guilty,” said Magistrate Renier Boshoff during the sentencing of Bellarmine Mugabe. The son of the late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe faced immediate deportation after pleading guilty to lesser charges related to a shooting incident.
Mugabe was fined R600,000 and ordered to leave South Africa. He admitted to brandishing an object that could be mistaken for a firearm and acknowledged his illegal status in the country. His cousin, Tobias Matonhodze, received a three-year prison sentence for attempted murder and other charges.
The shooting incident occurred at Mugabe’s Hyde Park residence in February. He was ordered to pay R400,000 for pointing a firearm and R200,000 for entering the country illegally. The total cost of his case has reached approximately R1 million, excluding legal fees.
Mugabe and Matonhodze compensated the victim, Sipho Mahlangu, with R250,000, with an additional R150,000 due later. However, the gun used in the shooting remains unrecovered despite extensive police searches.
Botsang Moiloa, a representative involved in the case, stated that “Mugabe would need to formally apply to the Home Affairs Director-General, who will decide whether he can enter or not.” This adds another layer of complexity to his situation as he faces deportation.
Robert Mugabe led Zimbabwe for 37 years before being removed in a coup in 2017. His family’s legacy continues to draw attention amid these legal troubles.
