South African Court Orders Immediate Deportation of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe; Tobias Matonhodze Jailed for Three Years Johannesburg
- Lavender Kurwara
- 29 Apr, 2026
South African Court Orders Immediate Deportation of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe; Tobias Matonhodze Jailed for Three Years
Johannesburg — April 29, 2026
A magistrate at the Alexandra Magistrates Court has ordered the immediate deportation of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe after he was convicted on firearm-related and immigration offences and fined a total of R600,000.
The ruling follows an incident earlier this year at a residence in Hyde Park, an affluent suburb of Johannesburg, where an object resembling a firearm was allegedly pointed during a confrontation. In court, Mugabe pleaded guilty to pointing an object likely to be perceived as a firearm and to contravening provisions of the South African Immigration Act by residing in the country unlawfully.
The court imposed a fine of R400,000 for the firearm-related offence and R200,000 for immigration violations. Magistrate Renier Boshoff ordered that once the fine is paid, Mugabe is to be taken directly for deportation through OR Tambo International Airport back to Zimbabwe.
His co-accused and cousin, Tobias Matonhodze, received a custodial sentence. Matonhodze pleaded guilty to more serious charges, including attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, defeating the course of justice, and immigration offences. He was sentenced to an effective three years in prison, with the sentences on all counts running concurrently.
Prosecutors told the court that the charges stemmed from a February incident in which a 23-year-old worker at the property was shot twice in the back while attempting to flee. The firearm used in the shooting has not been recovered. While Mugabe was not convicted of the shooting itself, the court found that Matonhodze was responsible as the individual who discharged the weapon.
The case attracted widespread attention in both South Africa and Zimbabwe due to Mugabe’s high-profile family background and the seriousness of the offences. Authorities confirmed that Mugabe’s deportation will be carried out immediately after payment of the fine, while Matonhodze is expected to be deported to Zimbabwe upon completion of his prison term.
The ruling underscores the South African judiciary’s firm stance on immigration compliance and criminal accountability, regardless of an individual’s public profile.
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