The youngest son of former Zimbabwean ruler Robert Mugabe was in police custody after a gardener was shot at his South Africa home on Thursday, media reported.
Police said they were investigating a case of attempted murder after the shooting in a wealthy suburb north of Johannesburg and had taken two men in for questioning.
A police spokeswoman declined to identify the men but several South African media outlets reported that one of them was Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe.
Photographs on the IOL News X feed showed pictures of Mugabe, 29, in handcuffs and being escorted by police.
WATCH | Video of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe in handcuffs. The son of the late former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe was arrested earlier after a shooting incident at his luxury home in Hyde Park, an upmarket suburb of Johannesburg.
The drama started around midday after… pic.twitter.com/GQKGsIbeyP
— 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐙𝐖 (@CrimeWatchZW) February 19, 2026
He is the youngest son of Robert Mugabe, the late Zimbabwe president who was ousted in a 2017 military takeover after 37 years in power.
The gardener was in a critical condition, police said.
“The motive of the shooting is unknown at this stage and police investigations are underway,” Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe 29-year-old son of the late former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe allegedly shot and wounded his gardener who is currently in a critical state. He allegedly locked himself in the house after the shooting. Police spokeswoman, Colonel Dimakatso… pic.twitter.com/t6e73j65X6
— Black-Jesus💧🇿🇦 (@KingMntungwa) February 19, 2026
The former president’s two sons with Grace Mugabe, Robert Jr and Bellarmine, sometimes live in Johannesburg where they have a reputation for partying.
In 2019, Grace was accused of attacking an employee at the family home in Zimbabwe with a shoe in 2017.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, 29, son of the late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, has been arrested following a shooting at a Hyde Park residence in Johannesburg. #HydePark #Johannesburg #SAPS #BellarmineMugabe #GardenerShot
Read on: https://t.co/dMD5vtMmUX
📷Timothy… pic.twitter.com/EXyJTsrWiS— IOL News (@IOL) February 19, 2026
Nicknamed “Gucci Grace” for her lavish lifestyle, she was also accused of assaulting a model with a power cable in Johannesburg the same year.
Robert Jr, 33, appeared in a Harare court in October last year charged with possession of cannabis, which he denies.
Breaking news
Chatunga Mugabe arrested after shooting at Hyde Park residence, gardener critically wounded
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, youngest son of late Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, has been arrested following the shooting of a gardener at his Hyde Park residence,… pic.twitter.com/UYjca48m5L
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) February 19, 2026
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
First published on African Insider
Also see: Popular South African DJ Warras tragically shot dead in Johannesburg
