By Lebone Rodah Mosima
The Alexandra Magistrates’ Court on Thursday again postponed the bail hearings for Bellarmine Mugabe, the son of late Zimbabwean former president Robert Mugabe, and his co-accused Tobias Tamirepi Matonhodze after a power outage disrupted proceedings.
The pair’s bail hearing was rolled over to 11 March, after an earlier postponement this week was also due to a power failure at the court. Both men were remanded in custody.
They face charges including attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, two counts of pointing a firearm, and contravention of the Immigration Act.
The charges stem from an alleged shooting at Mugabe’s Hyde Park residence in Johannesburg in February.
An altercation allegedly broke out between Mugabe and an employee — previously described as a gardener — at the home. The complainant was shot and later found outside the gate. The firearm used in the shooting has not been recovered.
Defence attorney Sinenhlanhla Mnguni told reporters at the court that the defence was ready to proceed but was frustrated by repeated delays.
“We’ve been ready to proceed since Monday last week, but of course we understand these things are out of our hands,” Mnguni said.
“We had spoken to the prosecution with regard to the progression of this matter and it appears that the court will reconvene next Wednesday. We hope electricity will be restored by then.”
Additional allegations aired in court include claims that one of the accused took a remote control from the complainant, returned to the property, and closed the gate.
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