News / National
More nights in jail for Chatunga Mugabe and co-accused Matonhodze
23 Feb 2026 at 11:39hrs |
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Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze will remain in custody following their appearance at the Alexandra Magistrate's Court on charges linked to last week's Hyde Park shooting.
The two face charges of attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, and unlawful possession of a firearm. The case has been postponed to March 3, with both accused remanded in custody.
The charges stem from an incident in which a 23-year-old employee at a Hyde Park residence was shot and left in critical condition.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed that a cartridge was recovered at the scene. Despite searches by K9 units and forensic teams, the firearm allegedly used in the shooting has not been located. The missing weapon is central to the State's case and underpins the charge of defeating the ends of justice.
Police have described the circumstances of the shooting as "a bit sketchy," with investigations still at preliminary stages.
Ahead of the court appearance, Chatunga's lawyer Jason Saus told SABC News:
"I do confirm that my client is in high spirits, we visited him several times this weekend. We are still taking further instructions and at this point we do not have any further comment. We do not have a choice, we have to do what we need to do. We do not want to compromise the investigations."
Saus also noted that the defence had not been formally notified of the defeating the ends of justice charge prior to proceedings.
Chatunga, 28, is the youngest son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. His legal issues extend beyond South Africa. In 2025, he was arrested in Mazowe following a violent confrontation at a gold mining concession and was later granted bail on assault-related charges; that matter remains unresolved.
The Hyde Park case has drawn comparisons to the 2017 South African legal controversy involving Grace Mugabe, when she was accused of assaulting South African model Gabriella Engels. That case escalated into a diplomatic dispute after then Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane initially granted Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity, a decision later overturned by the High Court.
Court proceedings for the Hyde Park shooting are set to resume on March 3.
The two face charges of attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, and unlawful possession of a firearm. The case has been postponed to March 3, with both accused remanded in custody.
The charges stem from an incident in which a 23-year-old employee at a Hyde Park residence was shot and left in critical condition.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed that a cartridge was recovered at the scene. Despite searches by K9 units and forensic teams, the firearm allegedly used in the shooting has not been located. The missing weapon is central to the State's case and underpins the charge of defeating the ends of justice.
Police have described the circumstances of the shooting as "a bit sketchy," with investigations still at preliminary stages.
"I do confirm that my client is in high spirits, we visited him several times this weekend. We are still taking further instructions and at this point we do not have any further comment. We do not have a choice, we have to do what we need to do. We do not want to compromise the investigations."
Saus also noted that the defence had not been formally notified of the defeating the ends of justice charge prior to proceedings.
Chatunga, 28, is the youngest son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. His legal issues extend beyond South Africa. In 2025, he was arrested in Mazowe following a violent confrontation at a gold mining concession and was later granted bail on assault-related charges; that matter remains unresolved.
The Hyde Park case has drawn comparisons to the 2017 South African legal controversy involving Grace Mugabe, when she was accused of assaulting South African model Gabriella Engels. That case escalated into a diplomatic dispute after then Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane initially granted Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity, a decision later overturned by the High Court.
Court proceedings for the Hyde Park shooting are set to resume on March 3.
Source - IOL
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