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Bellarmine Mugabe surrenders bail request amid legal negotiations
The youngest son of Zimbabwe's late former president Robert Mugabe appeared in a Johannesburg court Wednesday, facing charges of attempted murder and other offenses. Bellarmine Mugabe, 23, abandoned his bail application and entered plea discussions with South African prosecutors, his lawyer confirmed.
Allegations and court proceedings
Mugabe and his bodyguard are accused of shooting and wounding a 23-year-old man at a luxury property in Johannesburg's upscale suburbs in mid-February. The case has faced multiple delays, with bail hearings postponed twice before Mugabe opted to negotiate a plea.
Defense attorney Sinenhlanhla Mnguni told reporters outside the courtroom that it was "premature" to disclose whether his client would admit guilt. The next hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday.
Family legacy and public scrutiny
Bellarmine is the youngest of three children born to Robert Mugabe and his second wife, Grace. The Mugabe family dominated Zimbabwean politics for nearly four decades, amassing significant wealth and drawing criticism for their lavish lifestyle amid widespread poverty.
In a 2019 legal filing, Mugabe's daughter Bona disclosed the family's assets, which included $10 million in cash, four houses, 10 vehicles, a farm, and an orchard. Lawyers at the time stated none of the properties were registered under the former president's name.
"The children grew up in a bubble of privilege, shielded from Zimbabwe's harsh socio-economic realities,"
Dumisani Muleya, editor of Zimbabwe's NewsHawks
Bellarmine's troubled history
Like his siblings, Bellarmine has faced repeated legal issues. In 2024, he was arrested for assaulting a police officer at Zimbabwe's Beitbridge border but skipped his court date, prompting a warrant for his arrest. Months earlier, he was charged with assaulting a security guard at a mining site near Harare.
His parents publicly expressed concerns about his behavior during a 2013 television interview. Grace Mugabe urged him to "change his ways," while Robert Mugabe lamented his lack of focus on academics. Bellarmine admitted prioritizing video games over schoolwork.
Siblings' legal entanglements
Bellarmine's older brother, Robert Jr, has also faced legal troubles. In 2023, he was arrested for damaging property and assaulting a police officer at a Harare party but settled the case out of court. In 2025, he was fined for cannabis possession after police found 2 grams in his bag during a traffic stop.
Grace Mugabe's eldest son, Russell Goreraza, was convicted of manslaughter in 2015 after fatally striking a pedestrian while speeding. He received a fine instead of prison time, with the magistrate citing his remorse and first-time offender status.
Grace Mugabe's controversies
The former first lady, nicknamed "Gucci Grace" for her extravagant spending, has faced multiple assault allegations. In 2017, she was accused of attacking a young woman in a Johannesburg hotel room with an electric cord. Diplomatic immunity allowed her to leave South Africa, but a warrant for her arrest was issued in 2018 after immunity was revoked.
In 2009, she punched a British photographer in Hong Kong while wearing a diamond-studded ring. She claimed self-defense, citing her daughter Bona's presence, and avoided charges due to diplomatic protection.
Grace's political ambitions crumbled after her husband's 2017 ouster. Her dairy business collapsed in 2022 amid mounting debts, and she remains barred from entering South Africa.
Family's shifting alliances
The Mugabes retreated from public life following Robert Mugabe's removal but re-emerged in 2023, attending the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Bona Mugabe, the former president's only daughter, recently settled a high-profile divorce from pilot Simbarashe Chikore, who had sought a share of her alleged $80 million fortune.
The family's current whereabouts remain unconfirmed, with a spokesperson declining to comment.
