Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe Remanded In Jail Until March 3 On THREE Charges

Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe To Remain In Jail Until 3 March, Now Facing 3 Charges

In a dramatic turn of events at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court today, Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe, the son of Zimbabwe’s late former president Robert Mugabe, and his co-accused Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze have been ordered to remain behind bars until March 3rd for a formal bail application, now staring down the barrel of three serious criminal charges. The pair, who were initially arrested following a shocking shooting at the family’s upscale Hyde Park residence last Thursday, saw their legal troubles deepen as prosecutors slapped them with two additional counts, bringing the total to three charges, including the grave charge of attempting to kill a 23-year-old man.

Three Charges And A Missing Weapon

The court proceedings in Alexandra on Monday revealed the full weight of the allegations against the two men. They now face a charge sheet that includes attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, and the illegal possession of a firearm. The investigation has been hampered by the fact that the weapon used in the shooting has mysteriously vanished, leading to the additional charge. The victim, a young employee at the Mugabe home, remains in a critical condition in hospital after being shot.

Police confirmed that the two suspects, aged 28 and 33 years, will be facing charges of attempted murder and defeating the ends of justice since the firearm has not been found. Officers managed to recover spent cartridges at the scene, but have yet to find the firearm used in the shooting. The disappearance of the gun has led investigators to believe the crime scene may have been compromised.

Chaos In Court And A Collapse In Custody

The day was marked by confusion and high drama even before the pair entered the dock. There was an initial mix-up regarding jurisdiction, with the suspects briefly taken to the Randburg Magistrate’s Court before being redirected to Alexandra. The tension surrounding the case was palpable, and it was revealed that the stress of the situation had taken a severe physical toll on the late president’s son.

It has been confirmed that the son of former President Mugabe collapsed on Friday morning in custody. Sources suggest that Chatunga has a pre-existing medical condition, and officers at the holding cells had to act swiftly. An insider revealed that they swiftly attended to him and that he revealed his medical condition to them. They immediately informed his lawyers and those close to him to quickly bring in his medication. This incident has added a layer of concern for the family as he remains in state custody.

Family Fears And A Fugitive Mother

As Chatunga spends his days in a police cell, his family is reportedly scrambling to manage the crisis from afar. His mother, Grace Mugabe, is said to be desperate to intervene but is unable to set foot in South Africa due to her own outstanding legal battles. The former first lady is effectively a fugitive from justice in the country after an arrest warrant was issued for her in connection with the 2017 assault of model Gabriella Engels.

A source close to the family revealed that the mother is in Singapore, where she stays and cannot travel back because of the arrest warrant against her. She is worried and wants Bellarmine back in Zimbabwe because he is misbehaving in South Africa.  This complex family history looms large over the proceedings.

The case has been postponed to March 3rd, where the court will hear arguments for bail. Until then, the late president’s son will remain in custody, his lavish lifestyle a stark contrast to the cold reality of a prison cell.