Johannesburg, South Africa – Legal teams for Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and his co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, say they are “98 percent” close to finalising a plea deal in a high-profile Johannesburg court case. The deal comes after the 28-year-old Mugabe and Matonhodze were charged with attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, illegal possession of a firearm, and overstaying a visa.
The pair appeared at Alexandra Magistrates Court on March 17, 2026, where they withdrew their bail applications and signaled their intention to plead guilty to some charges in exchange for reduced sentences. Negotiations with the prosecution are expected to conclude before a magistrate, who will have the authority to approve or reject the agreement. Details of the terms are anticipated when the two return to court on March 24.
Mugabe and Matonhodze were arrested on February 19 at a property in West Park, a wealthy suburb north of Johannesburg, following a shooting incident involving a gardener. Police say the victim had missed work for several weeks, although it is unclear if this was related to the shooting. The shooter remains unidentified, and the firearm has not been recovered. The gardener is expected to make a full recovery.
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Bellarmine Mugabe is the youngest son of the late former Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, and his second wife, Grace Mugabe. The family has previously faced legal issues, including Bellarmine’s own arrests in Zimbabwe for aggressive conduct and involvement in a violent altercation at a family farm in Mazowe. Other family incidents include Grace Mugabe’s 2017 Johannesburg hotel assault allegations and his older brother Robert Jr’s cannabis-related fine in 2025.
This latest legal development underscores the ongoing scrutiny on the Mugabe family, with authorities in South Africa and Zimbabwe closely monitoring both past and current cases. Observers expect the plea deal to provide clarity on potential sentencing and may bring a swift resolution to a case that has captured regional attention.
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