The youngest son of the late Zimbabwean strongman Robert Mugabe is reportedly pulling out all the stops to avoid a lengthy stay in a South African prison. Bellarmine Mugabe, the 32-year-old socialite whose lifestyle has often landed him in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, has allegedly tabled a controversial plea deal that could see him walk free from serious criminal charges—provided he agrees to leave the country for good.
In a move that has sparked intense debate within the South African legal fraternity, Bellarmine’s legal team is said to be in high-stakes negotiations with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The proposed settlement follows a dramatic turn of events at the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court, where the flamboyant Mugabe scion and his co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, have been languishing in custody since their arrest earlier this year.
The charges against Bellarmine are far from trivial. He faces a daunting sheet that includes attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and defeating the ends of justice. These allegations stem from a chaotic incident in February, where a 23-year-old man—identified in some reports as a gardener—was allegedly shot and injured at a property in the upmarket suburb of Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
According to two highly placed sources who spoke to City Press, the offer to plead guilty was not Bellarmine’s first choice. Initially, he had every intention of fighting for his freedom through a standard bail application. However, the tide turned when investigating officers made it clear that they would vigorously oppose his release. The reason? Bellarmine is allegedly in South Africa illegally.
One source close to the negotiations revealed the moment the strategy shifted:
He intended to apply for bail, but when the investigating officer told his lawyers that they would oppose his release based on him being in the country illegally, he offered to plead guilty and be deported.
This admission of illegal status seems to be the linchpin of the Mugabe family’s current legal strategy. By pleading guilty to immigration charges and accepting immediate deportation back to Zimbabwe, Bellarmine hopes to sidestep a full-blown trial for the more severe charge of attempted murder.
The negotiations are reportedly complex, with two distinct offers currently sitting on the prosecutors' desks. The first proposal is a straightforward "pay-to-stay-away" arrangement. In this scenario, Bellarmine would financially compensate the shooting victim and receive a suspended sentence, coupled with an immediate deportation order.
The second, perhaps more controversial proposal, would see his co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, take the fall for the most serious charges. Under this deal, Matonhodze would plead guilty to attempted murder, the firearm charges, and defeating the ends of justice. In exchange, the Mugabe family would provide substantial financial compensation to the victim, effectively buying Bellarmine’s way out of the primary criminal responsibility.
To bolster their case for such a settlement, Bellarmine’s lawyers have reportedly reached into the annals of South African legal history, citing the infamous case of former Blue Bulls rugby player Jacobus "Bees" Roux.
The lawyers cited the case of the state versus former rugby player Jacobus Bees Roux, who avoided direct jail time with a payment of R70 000 after pleading guilty to culpable homicide in connection with a death that occured during what he described as a robbery.
The comparison is a bold one, suggesting that if a high-profile sportsman could avoid jail through a financial settlement and a guilty plea, the son of a former head of state should be afforded similar leniency. However, legal experts have been quick to point out the differences, noting that the charges against Bellarmine involve a firearm and the intent associated with attempted murder, which carries a different weight in the eyes of the law.
The National Prosecuting Authority finds itself in a precarious position. On one hand, sources suggest that prosecutors are grappling with a lack of physical evidence, including the conspicuous absence of the weapon used in the shooting. This evidentiary gap might make a plea deal more attractive to the state to ensure some form of conviction.
On the other hand, there is the massive hurdle of public perception. The Mugabe family has long been viewed with a mixture of fascination and frustration in South Africa, and any deal that allows Bellarmine to "buy" his way out of an attempted murder charge could be seen as a betrayal of the justice system.
However, prosecutors are reportedly concerned about public perception, fearing the settlement could be viewed as “a slap on the wrist”.
To mitigate this, prosecutors have suggested that any deal must include a suspended sentence with a very specific condition: Bellarmine must not commit any similar offences on South African soil for a specified period. Given his track record, this might be a difficult promise to keep.
Bellarmine’s legal woes are not confined to South Africa. In September 2024, authorities in Zimbabwe issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court on charges of disorderly conduct and possession of prohibited knives. This followed an incident where he allegedly assaulted a police officer in Beitbridge. His brother, Robert Mugabe Junior, has also had his share of brushes with the law, including a fine for drug possession and traffic violations.
The Mugabe family’s fall from grace since the late patriarch was ousted in 2017 has been marked by a series of such legal skirmishes across the region. Once the untouchable royalty of Harare, the Mugabe children now find themselves navigating the gritty reality of magistrate courts and holding cells.
This week, the tension was palpable as Bellarmine and Matonhodze appeared briefly in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court. The case was postponed until next month to allow for the final details of the plea agreement to be ironed out. Insiders suggest that the legal teams are "98% close" to a final signature, though a recent delay occurred simply because a key prosecutor was absent.
As the clock ticks down to the next court appearance, the question remains: will Bellarmine Mugabe’s name and wealth be enough to secure his exit from South Africa, or will the justice system stand firm?
When approached for comment, NPA regional spokesperson Abram Mohlatlole remained tight-lipped, stating that the authority could not comment on a matter that had not yet been finalised. Similarly, Bellarmine’s lawyer, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, was unavailable for comment before the story went to press.
For now, the son of the man who once ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist remains behind bars, waiting to see if his gamble for freedom will pay off.
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