Power outage derails Bellarmine Mugabe bail bid
The attempted murder case against the son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, Bellarmine, and his co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, has been postponed to Wednesday.
The duo’s bail application was postponed after a power failure at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg.
They are facing charges of attempted murder and defeating the ends of justice after a man was shot and wounded at their Hyde Park home last month.
After an extensive search of their property, police have yet to find the firearm that was used in the shooting.
Defence lawyer Sinenhlanhla Mnguni says instructions from clients are pending, and the ongoing power crisis is affecting the progress of the bail application.
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This was the second consecutive week Mugabe’s bail application was derailed by a power outage.
“These are things that are out of anyone's control. Frustrated as he may be, he's understanding. And at this stage, I think we all just want to proceed, and we get to a point where this matter can move forward,” Mnguni said.
“There are no additional charges; charges have been the same. I think there's confusion in the media about additional charges, because these charges have been in existence since the matter started, or brought before the court.”
During last week’s court proceedings, the State confirmed that it opposes the accused’s immediate release on bail, citing ongoing profiling processes and verification of their status in South Africa.
