Chatunga must face the music, says Zanu-PF

Farai Marapira, Director of Information for ZANU-PF, says President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling party do not condone the violence allegedly committed by Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe in South Africa.

Speaking in an interview with eNCA, Marapira stressed that the matter is before the courts and should be handled through South Africa's legal processes.

"Our President has been very clear on matters regarding violence. He stated clearly that as a party, we do not condone violence in any form," Marapira said.

"This is not to say we are implicating anyone, as the case is still under investigation. And we have full trust in the South African legal system to chase this matter to its correct end. This is a private citizen involved in a private matter, and we have full trust in the South African police system."

Meanwhile, the bail application for Mugabe and his co-accused, Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze, was postponed on Tuesday to Thursday at the Alexandra Magistrates' Court in Johannesburg. The postponement allows the defence time to review outstanding documents from the State before proceedings continue.

Mugabe, 28, and Matonhodze, 33, face three charges: attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, and unlawful possession of a firearm. They are accused of shooting a 23-year-old gardener in the back at the Mugabe Hyde Park residence on 19 February. The victim, reportedly an employee at the property, sustained injuries in the incident.

Questions remain over how Mugabe entered South Africa, amid uncertainty regarding his legal status in the country.

Both men are expected to formally apply for bail on Thursday, when the court will determine whether they will be granted temporary release pending trial.