Chatunga Mugabe’s plea hearing deferred to 24 March
South African authorities have postponed until Tuesday, 24 March, the criminal proceedings against Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, and his co-accused, Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze.
The pair appeared at Alexandra Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 17 March, to enter a plea in relation to charges stemming from an incident at their Hyde Park home in Johannesburg last month, in which an employee was reportedly shot and injured.
State Prosecutor Lufuno Maphiri said that plea negotiations were more than 90 per cent complete but could not be finalised on the day.
Mugabe and Matonhodze face seven charges, including attempted murder, possession of a firearm and ammunition, defeating the ends of justice, contravening the Immigration Act, theft, and the pointing of a firearm.
It later emerged that both men are in South Africa illegally. Their legal team and the State are understood to have reached a plea agreement, under which the defendants are expected to plead guilty to some charges while maintaining their innocence on others.
Bellarmine Mugabe’s lawyer, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, confirmed that the plea negotiations were at an advanced stage. Said Mnguni:
“Negotiations between the State and the defence are at an advanced stage, with Prosecutor Maphiri indicating they are about ninety-eight per cent complete.
“However, the senior public prosecutor was not available today to finalise the negotiations and proceed with the plea.
“It is understood that the plea will be finalised next week as the matter has been remanded to the twenty-fourth of March.” *_-Pindula_*
