Argive photo of Bellarmine Mugabe. (Photo:
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of ex-pres. Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, and his co-accused, Tobias Tamirepi Matonhodze, his bodyguard, briefly appeared again in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Mugabe and Matonhodze are on trial on charges of obstruction of justice, attempted murder, theft and breach of the Immigration Act.
These charges come after a shooting incident in February during which a gardener was seriously wounded at Mugabe’s home in Hyde Park in Johannesburg.
Magaboke Mohlatlole, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), says the state claims the gardener was initially assaulted during an altercation at home and then shot in the back when he tried to flee the premises.
“It is further alleged that one of the accused took a remote control device from the (injured) complainant, returned to the property and closed the gate (behind him).
“A security guard from an adjacent residence allegedly saw the complainant lying outside and informed the police,” says Mohlatlole.
The case has now been adjourned until Thursday so that the defense can obtain documents from the Department of Home Affairs to use as evidence.