The lawyer representing Bellarmine Mugabe has dismissed claims that Mugabe was recently spotted shopping in Midrand, South Africa, saying the viral social media image is “old” and that his client has not returned to the country since his deportation in April.
The photograph, which went viral on social media, allegedly shows the son of the late Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe shopping at Waterfall Corner in Midrand.
However, his lawyer, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, said the claim is false and misleading.
“We’ve taken instructions regarding the whereabouts of Mr Mugabe, and our instructions are clear. Mr Mugabe is currently not in the Republic of South Africa,” Mnguni said in an interview with the public broadcaster.
Mnguni declined to disclose Mugabe’s current location.
“I’m not at liberty to disclose where he is, but I can assure you that he’s not within the borders of the Republic of South Africa,” he said.
Asked whether Mugabe had returned to South Africa at any point since his deportation earlier this year, Mnguni said he had not.
“No, not at all. That’s just speculation, and I think the image that was used of my client is an old image.”
He noted that Mugabe is prohibited from entering South Africa for five years following his conviction in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court.
“My client has been banned from entering the Republic of South Africa for a period of five years because of the sentence he received from the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court.”
“He certainly would not want to flout the law or a court order that, in essence, bans him from entering the country for five years. So no, he certainly hasn’t been back since late April.”
Asked when and where the photograph was taken, Mnguni said he could not provide details.
“I cannot give instructions on when the image was taken, but it certainly was not taken at any point during the course of this year.”
He also said he had not discussed with Mugabe whether he intended returning to South Africa once the five-year ban expires.
“That’s something we haven’t discussed. Should the desire to enter South Africa arise, we will follow the proper legal channels.”
“At this stage, it’s not something that has been communicated. As I stated earlier, there’s a five-year period during which he cannot enter the Republic of South Africa, so it’s not even under consideration.”
Mugabe, 28, was fined R600,000 in connection with the attempted murder of an employee and was deported at his own expense on April 29, 2026.
His cousin and co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.
The judgment was delivered in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court by Magistrate Renier Boschoff after the pair pleaded guilty to five charges arising from two incidents in February.
The first incident involved the shooting of an employee, Sipho Mahlangu, at Mugabe’s Hyde Park residence.
The second involved Mugabe pointing a toy firearm in a manner that caused the victim to believe it was real.
The firearm used in the Hyde Park shooting has not been recovered despite an extensive police search of the property.
Mugabe was fined R400,000 or sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment for pointing the firearm, and R200,000 or 18 months’ imprisonment for entering and remaining in South Africa illegally.
Matonhodze, who pleaded guilty to the more serious offences, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for attempted murder, 12 months for defeating or obstructing the course of justice, three years for unlawful possession of a firearm, and 12 months for unlawful possession of ammunition.
The sentences will run concurrently, and he will be deported after serving his sentence.
The court previously heard that Mugabe and Matonhodze had compensated the victim by paying R250,000, with a further R150,000 to be paid later.
