By Everson Luhanga
- Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and his cousin Tobias Matonhodze pleaded guilty to crimes after Sipho Mahlangu was shot in Hyde Park.
- An investigating officer told the court Sipho Mahlangu received cash in a possible attempt to silence the injured security guard.
A 23-year-old security guard who was shot twice in the back received cash in what an officer says could be an attempt to silence him.
Sipho Mahlangu ran away after being shot at a Hyde Park home in February. Doctors treated him in a hospital for serious injuries.
Two men, including Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, appeared in the Alexandra Regional Court for the crime.
Mugabe, 29, admitted to pointing a gun and breaking immigration laws. The state dropped an attempted murder charge against him after he agreed to a plea deal.
His cousin, Tobias Matonhodze, 33, pleaded guilty to attempted murder. He told the court he fired the two shots that hit Mahlangu. Matonhodze also admitted to illegal immigration, having bullets and defeating the ends of justice.
An investigating officer said Mahlangu has received R250,000 from an agreed R400,000 payout. He said Mahlangu expects another R150,000 soon.
The officer told the court the money could be an attempt to silence Mahlangu. He asked for a harsh sentence, saying the two men refuse to say where the missing gun is.
Defence lawyers said someone else took the gun. They told the court other people were in the house during the shooting.
The lawyers asked for a lighter sentence. They said the men have no previous convictions and paid money to the victim. They said the men are willing to pay fines or leave the country.
The state wants Mugabe to go to prison for 12 months for each charge. It wants Matonhodze to serve five years for attempted murder and 12 years for gun crimes.
Both men have been in jail since the middle of February. The court will sentence them on 29 April.
Pictured above: Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and Tobias Matonhodze await sentencing as the court delays the case while the firearm remains missing.
Image source: Supplied
