Bellarmine Mugabe and co-accused Tobias Matonhodze will remain behind bars for the duration of their attempted murder trial after their legal team rejected bail applications due to charges relating to their legal status in South Africa.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe (28), son of late Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, and his co-accused, Tobias Tamirepi Matonhodze (33) will remain behind bars after their legal team rejected their bail applications and focused on possible plea negotiations at the Alexandra Magistrates Court on Wednesday, March 11.
The move concerns the couple's legal status in South Africa. They have been charged with violating the Immigration Act, which allows Zimbabweans to stay in the country without a visa for up to 90 days.
He has also been charged with brandishing a gun, possessing a gun, attempted murder and defeating the ends of justice in relation to the shooting death of a staffer at Mugabe's Hyde Park residence on 19 February 2026.
The gun used could not be located by authorities. The employee has been admitted to the hospital in critical condition.
Mugabe and Matonhodze's lawyer, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, told reporters that it had been “brought to their attention” by prosecutors that both were in the country illegally, which would harm their chances of getting bail. Although he confirmed that he would enter into possible plea negotiations, he was unable to confirm whether he intended to plead guilty to one or more of the charges…