Mugabe son questioned after Hyde Park shooting as police probe attempted murder

Police in Gauteng are investigating an attempted murder case after a shooting at a residence in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, on Wednesday, leaving a 23-year-old man wounded.

According to police, the victim, believed to be an employee at the property, was taken to the hospital for treatment. Members of the K9 unit, Bramley detectives and forensic teams processed the scene, and two men aged 28 and 33 were taken in for questioning. The motive remains unclear.

Authorities have confirmed that one of the individuals being questioned is a son of Robert Mugabe, drawing regional attention to the case. No arrests had been confirmed at the time of publication, and police say investigations are continuing.

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe. Image: Timothy Bernard/ Independent Newspapers

In a statement, police said the shooting occurred on 19 February at a private residence in the upmarket suburb. The victim was taken to the hospital, while officers secured the scene and began collecting evidence.

Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said detectives are still establishing the circumstances that led to the shooting and urged anyone with information to come forward.

Members of the Mugabe family have periodically been in the spotlight in South Africa over the past decade, often for legal or personal controversies rather than political activity.

After the late Zimbabwean leader’s removal from power in 2017, some family members spent time in South Africa for business, study and private matters. Incidents involving the family have occasionally drawn diplomatic and public attention, particularly where alleged assaults or disputes required police intervention.

Analysts say the family’s presence in South Africa has often intersected with broader regional interest in the legacy of Robert Mugabe’s rule and the political transition that followed in Zimbabwe.

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Police say the focus remains on determining the sequence of events and whether charges will be brought. Further updates are expected once investigators have concluded interviews and forensic analysis.

Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation while the probe is underway. The arrest has reignited debate over whether Mugabe could claim diplomatic immunity. However, legal experts say there is no clear basis for such protection.

International relations analyst Dr Gideon Chitanga told IOL that immunity is not inherited and applies only to accredited diplomats performing official duties. He said Mugabe is regarded as a private individual living in South Africa rather than a representative of the Zimbabwean state.

Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, immunity applies to recognised diplomatic agents and certain household members, but only where they are formally accredited by the host country. Possession of a diplomatic passport alone does not confer immunity.

The issue echoes the 2017 legal dispute involving Grace Mugabe, who sought diplomatic protection after being accused of assault in Johannesburg, a claim later ruled unlawful by South African courts.

Members of the Mugabe family have spent extended periods in South Africa over the years, often living between Johannesburg and Zimbabwe, particularly after Robert Mugabe’s removal from power in 2017.

The family has repeatedly drawn public attention in the country, from legal disputes to high-profile incidents involving the former president’s children. These episodes have kept the Mugabe name in South Africa’s political and social spotlight, even after Robert Mugabe died in 2019 following nearly four decades in power.

Police say the Hyde Park investigation remains active as forensic teams process evidence and detectives continue interviews.