Specialist crime investigator Mike Bolhuis has addressed public speculation that the criminal case against Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and his co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, might be dismissed. The speculation, which circulated on social media, suggested a lack of evidence due to the absence of a firearm allegedly used in a shooting incident in Johannesburg.
Mugabe, the son of the late Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, and Matonhodze appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court in late March. The pair face charges related to a shooting that occurred in the Sandton area earlier this year. Both were granted bail following their court appearance.
According to reports from SABC News South Africa and New Zimbabwe, claims began to surface that the state’s case could be withdrawn. These claims were based on the premise that prosecutors had not recovered the firearm allegedly used during the incident, a piece of evidence some considered critical for a conviction.
In a statement addressing these claims, Bolhuis rejected the assertion that the case would be dismissed. Bolhuis, whose organization is involved in the investigation, indicated that the prosecution has sufficient evidence to proceed without the firearm in question. He affirmed that the legal process would continue based on the available evidence presented by the state.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is responsible for prosecuting criminal matters on behalf of the state. The case against Mugabe and Matonhodze is ongoing, and they are expected to return to court for their next appearance. The court will hear further details of the state’s case as proceedings continue.
