February 22, 2026 | Johannesburg, South Africa –
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, 28, the youngest son of the late former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, collapsed twice while in police custody following his arrest for the shooting of a gardener at his Johannesburg home.
The incident occurred on Thursday at Mugabe’s residence in the upscale Hyde Park neighborhood, where a 23-year-old gardener was critically injured. Mugabe and an accomplice were initially detained for questioning before being formally charged with attempted murder.
According to reports from News24, Mugabe first collapsed Thursday night at Bramley Police Station and again in the early hours of Friday. Authorities say the episodes may be related to a pre-existing medical condition, raising concerns about his health during detention.
The shooting triggered a major police response, including K-9 units and divers, to search for the firearm used in the attack. While spent cartridges were recovered at the scene, the weapon itself remains missing.
Mugabe is scheduled to appear before Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Monday for a bail hearing. Meanwhile, the injured gardener remains in critical condition at a Johannesburg hospital.
The case has drawn widespread attention due to Mugabe’s high-profile family background. His mother, Grace Mugabe, was previously involved in a legal controversy in South Africa in 2017 over alleged diplomatic immunity following an assault claim.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the missing firearm.
