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The home of Bellermine Mugabe who was arrested after allegedly shooting a gardener.
- One of Robert Mugabe’s sons was taken in for questioning and subsequently arrested after a gardener at a Hyde Park residence was shot.
- He initially locked himself inside a room but later surrendered after negotiations with the police.
- When Gauteng police went back to the scene to look for the gun and further clues, they intercepted and seized a black BMW fitted with sirens as it was leaving the property.
The son of late former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, Bellermine Mugabe, has been arrested for allegedly shooting and wounding a 23-year-old gardener at a residence in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
Police officers from multiple units descended on the upmarket property after the incident on Thursday.
Police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said two men, aged 28 and 33 years, had been taken in for questioning and were subsequently arrested.
“They are expected to appear in the Alexandra court soon on charges of attempted murder. Police investigations are continuing,” she added.
The gardener sustained two gunshot wounds to the back and is in a critical condition.
Insiders told News24 that Mugabe had initially locked himself inside a room but had later surrendered after negotiations with the police.
News24 understands it took the police between two and three hours to negotiate with him and his friend while they were locked inside.
Sources added that, as the police were negotiating with the alleged shooter, people who identified themselves as the suspects’ friends were allowed to enter the premises.
As the suspects were being interrogated on the property, the friends were seen by the media entering and leaving.
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Two neighbours told News24 that Mugabe often fired into the air.
It is alleged that he chased and shot the gardener, who tried to flee, before falling near a neighbour’s house.
A neighbour, who witnessed the incident, claimed to have heard two gunshots coming from inside the house. Moments later, he said, he saw the victim running out of the residence, with Mugabe chasing after him with a firearm.
The neighbour added:
The victim was on the street, lying on the grass, pleading for his life.
He said the gunman appeared to notice him, watching while he was holding a phone to his ear.
According to the neighbour, Mugabe pleaded with the gardener to come back inside the house to talk, but he refused.
“The victim refused, reportedly fearing for his life.”
Mugabe then walked back into the house with the gun still in his hand.
The neighbour and others then called for help.
He added that it was not unusual to hear gunshots coming from the Mugabe residence.
Another witness told News24 that he was walking along the street when he heard three gunshots.
They said:
I saw Mugabe running into his home carrying a gun. The victim was lying on the street, wounded. He was immediately rushed to the hospital.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said officers had opened an attempted murder investigation.
He added that members of the diplomatic unit had been patrolling the area when they were stopped by a security guard who alerted them to the shooting.
The incident occurred in Hyde Park, a posh Johannesburg suburb which is home to several prominent politicians and businesspeople, including President Cyril Ramaphosa and EFF leader Julius Malema.
On Thursday evening, Gauteng’s head of detectives, Major General Mbuso Khumalo, and his troops, along with other police officials, returned to the property to search for the gun and further clues.
Police seized a black BMW sedan when they returned to the Mugabe residence later on Thursday.
News24 understands that the seized sedan was recently fitted with police sirens.
They subsequently confiscated a black BMW sedan, allegedly fitted with police sirens.
News24 understands that the seized sedan’s original colour was orange, but recently changed to black and fitted with sirens.
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The vehicle was intercepted at the gate while allegedly attempting to leave the property.
Sources close to the investigation told News24 that officers spotted the BMW leaving the premises with three occupants inside.
Police found two men and a woman in the car.
A fire engine and police divers arrived at the property on Thursday night to inspect a pool they believed might be hiding a weapon.
The two men identified themselves as bodyguards of the Mugabe family, while the woman identified herself as a domestic worker at the property.
Earlier on Thursday, the police recovered a single cartridge.
Sources said the police suspected there might be additional weapons at the property.
A fire engine and police divers arrived at the property on Thursday night to search and drain a pool on the premises where it was believed a weapon might have been dumped.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect arrests, the seizure of a black BMW sedan, and the search for a weapon.
