Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe To Spend Another Week In Jail After Bail Postponed Again

Mugabe’s Son To Spend 21 Days In Custody Before Bail Hearing

Johannesburg – Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the son of the late former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, will spend almost another week behind bars after his bail application was postponed yet again on Thursday due to a bizarre power outage at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court.

The 28-year-old socialite and his co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, made a brief appearance in the dock on Thursday morning, only to be told they would have to return to their cells as the court had no electricity to proceed with their case.

Court In The Dark

The complete power failure at the court in Gauteng brought proceedings to a grinding halt, forcing Magistrate Ruth Mhlanga to postpone the matter to 11 March 2026.

According to eNCA journalist Heidi Giokos,

“The matter involving the son of former Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe and his co-accused has been postponed YET again. This time due to the fact that the court doesn’t have electricity.”

SABC News reporter Chriselda Zozi Lewis confirmed the development, stating:

“The case against the son of the former Zimbabwean President Bellarmine #Mugabe and his co-accused Tobias Matonhodze has been POSTPONED to March 11 as there is no electricity at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court.”

This marks the second consecutive delay for the pair. The matter was initially scheduled to be heard earlier this week, but was pushed back to Thursday due to outstanding documents and technicalities.

Chatunga Bellarmine was first arrested on 19 February 2026 following a dramatic shooting incident at his upscale Hyde Park home. By the time he shuffles back into the dock on 11 March, he will have been detained for 21 days without the opportunity to secure his release.

Fresh Charges Stack Up

While fighting for their freedom, the legal net is tightening around the two men. Prosecutors have thrown the book at them, adding two more serious charges to an already daunting list.

According to the updated charge sheet, Mugabe and Matonhodze now face attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, possession of a firearm and ammunition, theft, and two fresh counts: pointing a firearm and contravening the Immigration Act.

IOL reported that the charges “stem from an alleged altercation inside Mugabe’s home in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.” It is alleged that in February 2026, the pair shot a 23-year-old employee at Mugabe’s upscale Hyde Park mansion, leaving him in a critical condition. The State has confirmed it will be opposing bail, and the firearm used in the shooting has reportedly not yet been recovered by police.

The new immigration charge raises serious questions about Mugabe’s status in South Africa. The Department of Home Affairs is expected to provide clarity on his legal standing in the country when the case resumes.

Mugabe and Matonhodze will now have to wait until next Wednesday, 11 March, for their formal bail application to be heard—assuming the court has power.