JOHANNESBURG,
South
Africa
–
Bellarmine
Chatunga
Mugabe,
the
28-year-old
son
of
Zimbabwe’s
late
former
president
Robert
Mugabe,
is
set
to
appear
in
a
Johannesburg
court
on
Monday
on
charges
of
attempted
murder.
Mugabe
was
arrested
last
Thursday
after
police
were
called
to
his
Hyde
Park
home,
where
a
23-year-old
man
was
shot
and
critically
wounded.
A
33-year-old
co-accused
will
appear
alongside
him
at
the
Alexandra
Magistrate’s
Court.
Police
have
been
unable
to
recover
the
firearm
used
in
the
shooting.
However,
Gauteng
police
commissioner
Tommy
Mthombeni
confirmed
that
both
Mugabe
and
the
second
suspect
were
tested
for
gunshot
residue
–
microscopic
metal
particles
expelled
when
a
firearm
is
discharged
that
can
remain
on
a
shooter’s
hands,
face
and
clothing.
The
injured
man,
who
is
reportedly
in
critical
condition,
previously
worked
as
a
gardener
at
the
property
but
had
been
absent
for
several
months.
“Apparently
he
did
not
come
to
work
for
some
time
and
there
was
an
altercation
regarding
that,”
said
Gauteng
provincial
police
spokesperson
Colonel
Dimakatso
Nevhuhulwi.
“It
was
indicated
that
he
is
in
a
critical
condition,
but
we
are
hoping
that
he
will
be
fine,”
she
added,
confirming
that
the
victim
sustained
a
single
gunshot
wound.
Police
also
seized
a
vehicle
at
the
property
which
they
said
had
been
illegally
fitted
with
police
sirens.
Mugabe’s
arrest
is
the
latest
in
a
string
of
legal
troubles.
In
August
2024,
he
was
arrested
for
disorderly
conduct
at
a
police
checkpoint
along
the
Beitbridge-Harare
highway.
Officers
reportedly
found
him
in
possession
of
a
knife.
In
June
last
year,
he
was
arrested
after
allegedly
leading
a
violent
assault
on
illegal
gold
miners
who
had
encroached
onto
his
mother’s
farm
in
Mazowe.
Several
people
reportedly
suffered
broken
limbs
during
the
incident.
Chatunga
and
his
brother,
Robert
Junior,
who
has
also
faced
arrest
in
Zimbabwe
on
drug
and
assault
charges,
have
drawn
repeated
public
scrutiny,
living
lifestyles
that
contrast
sharply
with
the
austere
image
cultivated
by
their
late
father.