South African police say Chatunga Mugabe, the youngest son of Zimbabwe’s late former president Robert Mugabe, has been arrested following a shooting incident at a luxury home in Johannesburg.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, 29, was taken into custody on Thursday afternoon after a security guard was shot and seriously wounded at a property in Hyde Park, one of the city’s most affluent suburbs. Police confirmed that the injured guard was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.
The incident unfolded shortly after midday at the Hyde Park residence, prompting a significant police response. Officers, including specialised hostage negotiators, were deployed after the suspect allegedly barricaded himself inside a room following an argument with the guard.
Anti-crime campaigner Yusuf Abramjee said the situation escalated rapidly. In posts on social media, he reported that police had been called after reports that a homeowner had opened fire during a dispute with a member of the security staff. He later identified the suspect as the son of the former Zimbabwean leader.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed officers were at the scene in Hyde Park, an upmarket area of Johannesburg. Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Sello said authorities were still verifying details and would provide further updates once investigations progressed.
This latest arrest adds to a series of legal troubles involving Chatunga Mugabe, whose past has been marked by allegations of violent behaviour in both Zimbabwe and South Africa.
In June last year, he appeared in a Zimbabwean court facing multiple assault charges linked to an incident at a mining site in Mazowe. Prosecutors alleged that he and his bodyguards attacked several workers during a confrontation over illegal mining activities. The accused were later released on bail while the case continued.
Earlier, in September 2024, Chatunga Mugabe was also charged in Zimbabwe following an altercation at a police roadblock in Beitbridge. Court documents alleged that he threatened an officer with a knife after being stopped for routine checks.
Police in South Africa have not yet confirmed what charges Chatunga Mugabe may face following the Hyde Park shooting. Investigators say the case remains under active investigation, with further announcements expected once statements from witnesses and forensic evidence have been reviewed.
