Robert Mugabe’s Son to Seek Bail in Alexandra Court Amid Ongoing Hyde Park Shooting Probe

Zimbabwean nationals Bellarmine Mugabe and Tobias Matonhodze are expected to return to the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to apply for bail in a case that has drawn widespread regional attention.

The two men made a brief appearance in the same court last week, where proceedings were postponed to allow investigators more time to gather evidence in connection with a violent incident at a Hyde Park residence linked to the Mugabe family.

Charges Connected to Hyde Park Shooting

The matter stems from a shooting last month at a property in Hyde Park, reportedly the home of the son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.

A 23-year-old man, believed to be employed at the luxury property, was shot and later hospitalised with serious injuries. Following the incident, Bellarmine Mugabe and Matonhodze were arrested and now face multiple charges, including:

Attempted murder
Defeating the ends of justice
Unlawful possession of a firearm

Complicating the investigation is the disappearance of the firearm allegedly used during the shooting. Police have so far been unable to recover the weapon, raising questions about possible interference at the crime scene.

Missing Firearm ‘Does Not Weaken State Case’

Despite the unrecovered weapon, the state maintains that it has a solid case against the accused. According to reports by SABC, specialist investigator Mike Bolhuis argued that the absence of the firearm could, in fact, suggest deeper wrongdoing rather than undermine the prosecution.

Bolhuis emphasised that the disappearance of the weapon indicates potential corruption or deliberate obstruction:

“If the firearm is not found, it means there is corruption. Those on the scene will know where the weapon is, and they must be thoroughly investigated. Otherwise, they must all be charged because it is definitely defeating the ends of justice, and there is a form of bribing, colluding and intimidation as well,” he said.

His remarks point to a broader concern namely that individuals present during or after the shooting may have played a role in concealing evidence. Investigators are expected to expand their focus beyond the immediate suspects should new information suggest attempts to obstruct justice.

Legal Proceedings Continue

Tuesday’s bail application is expected to reveal more about the direction of the case, including the state’s position on whether the accused should remain in custody while investigations continue. Prosecutors are likely to highlight the seriousness of the charges, the missing weapon, and the potential risk of interference should bail be granted.

Meanwhile, the defence is anticipated to argue for the constitutional rights of the accused, possibly challenging the strength of the evidence presented so far and the conditions under which their arrests were made.

The case continues to attract attention both in South Africa and Zimbabwe due to the high-profile family connection and the unanswered questions surrounding the handling of evidence.

As the court prepares to deliberate on the bail bid, investigators are still working to piece together the chain of events that culminated in the shooting an effort that will determine not only the fate of the accused but also whether others will be brought before the court for related offences.