Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe‘s two sons have reportedly relocated to South Africa from Dubai and Zimbabwe respectively amid fears their personal security might be “compromised” in the neighbouring country.

South Africa also home to hundreds of thousands or even millions of Zimbabweans who fled Mugabe’s political repression and economic failure.

According to Zimbabwe Independent, the two sons – Robert Jr and Bellarmine Chatunga – have been in Johannesburg since the start of the year for studies.

“First Family shifted their kids to South Africa for studies and a better life after Robert Jr was removed from Dubai under controversial circumstances. Chatunga was also reportedly moved to make him focus on his studies, away from Zimbabwe’s suffocating environment and his familiar social scene playground,” the report said.

There were, however, security concerns, with Robert Mugabe’s family and security bosses saying the two could be targeted “not just for crime, but also for political reasons”, the report said.

South Africa is home to millions of Zimbabweans who fled Mugabe’s political repression and economic failure.

Last year, First Lady Grace Mugabe claimed that soldiers and top Zanu-PF officials angling for power wanted to kill Chatunga.

Reports quoted Grace at the time as saying: “Imagine it has got to a stage where they want to kill my son Bellarmine.”

Contacted for comment, Police Protection Unit commanding officer Lee Muchemwa referred all questions to national police spokesperson Charity Charamba who, in turn, said all queries should be directed to the Foreign Affairs ministry. Efforts to get a comment from the ministry were in vain.