Police in South Africa have arrested the youngest son of Zimbabwe’s late former President Robert Mugabe after a reported shooting at a property in an upmarket suburb in Johannesburg.
Bellarmine Mugabe, thought to be in his 20s, was taken into custody following allegations that a man, believed to be a gardener, was shot.
Police are currently at the scene in Hyde Park and are searching for a firearm.
Bellarmine Mugabe is the youngest son of Robert and his second wife Grace Mugabe. Robert Mugabe, who died in 2019, led Zimbabwe for 37 years before being forced out of power at the age of 93 in 2017.
Bellarmine Mugabe is one of two people detained for questioning as the South African police determine the circumstances of the shooting, police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi told the BBC.
The victim is in hospital and in a critical condition, she added.
“The circumstances of the shooting at this stage are still a bit sketchy. As you can see, we have our police units here conducting preliminary investigations. We also have our dog unit currently searching the house for the firearm that is alleged to have been used to shoot the individual,” Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi told journalists at the property.
“At the moment, we will be taking two people into custody. Their ages are 33 and 24. They will be taken in for questioning so that we can determine what actually happened and what led to the shooting,” she said.
Nevhuhulwi confirmed that the firearm had not yet been located and that police were extensively searching the residence.
“We did manage to find a cartridge, and that cartridge will form part of the investigation,” she added.
A lengthy negotiation process took place after the occupants of the residence initially refused to open the property to police following the shooting.
Police have not yet officially confirmed the identity of the alleged shooter. Nevhuhulwi confirmed that the victim is employed at the premises as a gardener and that the suspects are expected to face charges of attempted murder.
“The victim has been taken to the hospital. It was indicated that he is in a critical condition, but we are hoping that he will be fine,” she said.
The incident is the latest to place Mugabe in the spotlight in South Africa. In 2023, IOL reported that he was accused of assault following an altercation at a Sandton nightclub. At the time, police confirmed that a case had been opened, although the outcome was not publicly disclosed.
He has also previously drawn public attention on social media for displaying large amounts of cash and luxury vehicles, sparking debate about his lifestyle while living in South Africa.
The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.
By Agencies
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