Bellarmine Mugabe, son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, has pleaded guilty to pointing a firearm and contravening South Africa’s immigration laws in the Hyde Park shooting case. His co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, also pleaded guilty to a string of serious offences, including attempted murder. The pair appeared in the Alexandra Regional Court north of Johannesburg on Friday.

Their guilty pleas followed the signing of Section 112 plea statements, a key step that allows an accused person to formally admit guilt in court. According to IOL, Matonhodze pleaded guilty to attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, and being in the country illegally. Mugabe pleaded guilty to pointing a firearm and breaching immigration laws.

Charges stem from February shooting

The case relates to a February shooting at Mugabe’s Hyde Park residence, where a 23-year-old employee was shot and critically injured. The victim has now been identified as Sipho Mahlangu. The firearm used in the incident has still not been recovered, adding another unresolved layer to the case.

The matter has now been postponed to 24 April. IOL reported that the court wants clarity on whether Mahlangu has been compensated and also wants details about the missing firearm.

Previous plea talks had stalled

The court development marks a sharp turn in a case that had already been delayed by unresolved plea negotiations. Three weeks ago, the matter was postponed to 17 April after the State said it had not yet finalised plea agreements. At an earlier appearance, prosecutors reportedly signalled that they were unhappy with the terms being discussed with the defence.

Before the guilty pleas, Mugabe and Matonhodze had been facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, possession of a firearm and ammunition, defeating the ends of justice, theft, pointing a firearm, and contravening the Immigration Act.

Focus shifts to sentencing and missing gun

Friday’s pleas move the case into a new phase, but major questions remain. The court must still determine the full consequences for both men, while the unresolved issue of the missing firearm remains central to the matter.

For now, the guilty pleas are a major breakthrough in a case that has drawn attention because of Mugabe’s surname, the seriousness of the charges, and the condition of the young worker caught in the shooting.