By Mapaballo Borotho
- Bellarmine Mugabe and his cousin have pleaded guilty in a shooting case.
- The charges include attempted murder, firearm offences and immigration violations.
- They are expected to be sentenced following a plea deal with the State.
Bellarmine Mugabe and his co-accused have pleaded guilty in connection with an attempted murder case.
Mugabe, the youngest son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, pleaded guilty to pointing a firearm and contravening the Immigration Act.
His cousin, Tobias Matonhdze, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, possession and pointing of a firearm, as well as contravening the Immigration Act.
The pair entered into a Section 112 plea agreement with the State.
A Section 112 plea agreement in South African law, under the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, allows an accused to plead guilty, often with a written explanation of the plea or through questioning by the court to confirm the plea’s validity.
It is typically used for non-capital, non-serious offenses. It streamlines proceedings, allowing for negotiated sentences.
Mugabe and Matonhdze were arrested in March 2026 at Mugabe’s Hyde Park residence following the shooting of Sipho Mahlangu, believed to be a gardener at the property.
The two are appearing before the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court, where they are expected to be sentenced in line with the plea agreement on Friday, 17 April 2026.
The pair is expected back in court on April 29 for further investigations relating to the missing firearm used in the incident.
For now, they remain in custody.
This is a developing story…
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