Published: 3 hours ago

A South African court has postponed sentencing in the case involving Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of the late former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, with prosecutors pushing for direct imprisonment on multiple charges.

The Alexandra Magistrates Court heard that the state is seeking 12 months' direct imprisonment for Mugabe on a charge of pointing a firearm, along with an additional 12 months for being in South Africa illegally. Mugabe has pleaded guilty to both offences.

His co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, faces significantly harsher potential penalties after pleading guilty to a series of more serious charges. Prosecutors are seeking five years' direct imprisonment for attempted murder, 12 years for possession of an illegal firearm, 12 years for defeating the ends of justice, a fine for unlawful possession of ammunition, and a further 12 months for immigration violations.

If imposed, the firearm-related and justice-defeating charges alone could see Matonhodze serve a combined 24 years behind bars.

The charges stem from a February 19 shooting incident at Mugabe's Hyde Park residence, in which his security guard, Sipho Mahlangu, was wounded. The firearm allegedly used in the incident has not been recovered.

According to the investigating officer, Mahlangu has received R250,000 in compensation, with an additional R150,000 still outstanding. However, the officer urged the court to impose custodial sentences, arguing that both accused had failed to show remorse and had not cooperated fully with authorities by disclosing the whereabouts of the weapon.

"Both accused showed no remorse," the officer told the court, adding that the continued failure to produce the firearm pointed to ongoing non-cooperation.

The defence argued for non-custodial sentences, maintaining that other individuals present at the Hyde Park property could have removed the weapon. It also cited the compensation already paid to Mahlangu as a sign of accountability, despite the outstanding balance.

The matter has been postponed to April 29, when the court is expected to deliver its sentencing decision.
- ZimLive

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