Argive photo of Bellarmine Mugabe. (Photo:
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe (28) and his co-accused, Tobias Tamirepi Matonhodze (33), were sentenced in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday in connection with a shooting incident earlier this year at Mugabe’s home in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
Mugabe, son of the late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment or a fine of R400 000 for pointing a firearm, and 18 months imprisonment or a fine of R200 000 for breaching the Immigration Act.
Matonhodze, Bellarmine’s cousin, was sentenced to effectively three years of direct imprisonment for attempted murder. Mugabe will be deported on Wednesday and Matonhodze will be deported as soon as he has served his prison sentence. The court heard that the victim was offered R250 000 in compensation and promised a further R150 000.
The two pleaded guilty to the charges against them earlier this month.
Mugabe pleaded guilty to charges of breaching the Immigration Act and pointing a firearm, while Matonhodze pleaded guilty to charges of attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, obstruction of justice and breach of the Immigration Act.
The complaint against them stems from an incident on 19 February when an argument broke out between Mugabe, Matonhodze and a garden worker, after which the worker was assaulted and shot in the back in an attempt to flee. He collapsed outside the house’s gate. A security guard came across him and called the police.
Matonhodze admitted in his plea that he shot the complainant.
In aggravating sentence, the prosecutor Godfrey Maphiri argued that the accused showed a blatant disregard for the laws of the country, including staying illegally in the country for a long period of time and at the same time committing serious criminal acts.
Magaboke Mohlatlole, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said the sentences send an unequivocal message that violent criminal acts, together with contempt for the laws of South Africa, will have firm consequences. “No individual is above the law.”