Thursday, February 19, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
South African authorities have arrested Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the youngest son of the late Robert Mugabe, former president of Zimbabwe, following a shooting incident at his Johannesburg residence that left a gardener critically injured.
The incident unfolded on Thursday at a luxury property in Hyde Park, an affluent suburb north of Johannesburg, when shots were reportedly fired during a dispute involving a household employee, identified by officials as a gardener. The victim sustained at least one gunshot wound and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, police said.
South African police responded to the scene and initially questioned two men before placing them under arrest on attempted murder charges. Although authorities typically do not publicly name suspects before court appearances, local media have reported that one of the individuals taken into custody was Bellarmine Mugabe, who is 29 years old.
Images circulated by regional outlets showed Mugabe in handcuffs and being escorted by officers, underscoring the seriousness of the case and the swift action taken by law enforcement. Officials confirmed that the exact motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and police investigations are ongoing, including efforts to locate the firearm used in the incident.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe is the youngest son of Zimbabwe’s former leader, who ruled the country for nearly four decades before being ousted in a military takeover in 2017 and later dying in 2019. His family has previously attracted media attention over various controversies, while he and his brother have been known to spend time in South Africa.
Police have yet to release formal updates on upcoming court proceedings for the suspects, but the high-profile nature of the arrest has drawn regional and international attention as the investigation continues.