Bellarmine Chatunga, son of the late former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, has been arrested in South Africa following an alleged shooting incident at his residence in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
The incident reportedly occurred at Chatunga’s home in the affluent Hyde Park suburb, a well-known residential area in the northern part of the city. According to preliminary reports, an argument broke out between Chatunga and a gardener employed at the property. The altercation allegedly escalated, culminating in the gardener being shot.
Emergency services responded swiftly, and the injured gardener was transported for urgent medical treatment. Authorities have confirmed that he remains in critical condition, with medical personnel working to stabilise him. Further details regarding the extent of his injuries have not yet been disclosed.
Police were called to the scene shortly after the incident was reported. Upon arrival, officers secured the premises and launched a preliminary investigation. Chatunga was subsequently arrested in connection with the shooting. Law enforcement officials confirmed that another individual was also taken into custody as part of the ongoing investigation.
Gauteng Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, addressed members of the media at the scene, stating that investigations are still at an early stage and that several aspects of the case remain unclear.
“The circumstances of the shooting at this stage are still a bit sketchy,” Nevhuhulwi said. “As you can see, we have our police units here conducting preliminary investigations. We also have our dog unit currently searching the house for the firearm that is alleged to have been used to shoot the individual.”
According to the police spokesperson, authorities have yet to recover the firearm allegedly used in the incident. However, investigators did locate a cartridge at the scene, which will form part of the forensic examination. The recovery of the cartridge is expected to assist ballistic experts in determining the type of weapon used and reconstructing the sequence of events.
“At the moment, we will be taking two people into custody. Their ages are 33 and 24,” Nevhuhulwi confirmed. “They will be taken in for questioning so that we can determine what actually happened and what led to the shooting.”
Police have not yet released further details regarding the identity of the second suspect or the specific charges that may be brought. It is understood that both individuals will be questioned as investigators work to establish the precise circumstances surrounding the altercation and whether any additional persons were involved.
The arrest of Chatunga, who is the son of Zimbabwe’s longtime former leader Robert Mugabe, has drawn significant public attention due to his family’s political prominence. Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades before being ousted in 2017. While Chatunga has largely remained outside formal political office, his name continues to attract media scrutiny.
Authorities have indicated that further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses. For now, the focus remains on the condition of the injured gardener and the recovery of the missing firearm, as police continue gathering evidence to clarify what transpired at the Hyde Park residence.
