By Lebone Rodah Mosima
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and his cousin, Tobias Tamirepi Matonhodze, pleaded guilty to multiple charges in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Friday following a shooting incident at a Johannesburg residence.
Matonhodze, 33, pleaded guilty to five counts of attempted murder, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, defeating the ends of justice, and contravening the Immigration Act.
Mugabe, the 28-year-old son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, pleaded guilty to pointing a firearm and two counts of contravening the Immigration Act.
Advocate Laurence Hodes, representing the accused, told the court the pleas were made in agreement with the State in terms of Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
“Accused 1 will plead guilty on counts 6 and 8, and accused 2 on counts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8,” Hodes said.
Prosecutor Lufuno Maphiri said the charges stem from an incident on February 19, 2026, at Mugabe’s residence in Hyde Park, where an altercation occurred between the accused and a security guard, Sipho Mahlangu.
According to the State, Mahlangu was assaulted and shot in the back while attempting to flee, collapsing outside the property gate.
Maphiri said Matonhodze had also attempted to conceal or dispose of the firearm used in the shooting, thereby obstructing the course of justice.
Both accused signed plea agreements.
In mitigation, Hodes asked the court to consider a non-custodial sentence for Mugabe, suggesting a fine and deportation to Zimbabwe.
He also requested suspended sentences for both men.
“They are both relatively young and capable of rehabilitation,” Hodes said, adding that compensation could be paid to the victim.
Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, lawyer of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and Tobias Matonhodze, addressing the media outside the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court. PHOTO: Eddie Mtsweni
Testifying for the State, South African Police Service Lieutenant Colonel C.P. Raj said the firearm used in the shooting had not yet been recovered and that investigations were ongoing.
“The accused were present when the firearm was discharged and the victim was injured,” Raj said.
“The firearm has not been recovered, and the accused have not assisted in locating it.”
The case was postponed to April 24 for further investigation, including efforts to recover the weapon and address compensation for the victim.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the convictions, saying it remained committed to prosecuting violent crime and ensuring accountability.
“The convictions follow guilty pleas by both accused to serious offences arising from a violent incident in Hyde Park,” the NPA said in a statement.
Both Mugabe and Matonhodze remain in custody.
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