Bellarmine Mugabe and his co-accused Tobias Matonhodze are expected to be sentenced on Wednesday at the Alexandra Regional Court, bringing a high-profile criminal case to a critical conclusion.

The pair entered into a plea agreement with the state earlier this month after spending several weeks in custody.

Mugabe pleaded guilty to charges of being illegally in South Africa and pointing a firearm, the latter relating to a separate incident that occurred two weeks prior to the Hyde Park shooting.

Matonhodze, meanwhile, admitted guilt on multiple charges, including attempted murder, contravening the Immigration Act, defeating the ends of justice, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

These charges stem from a February shooting at Mugabe’s residence in Hyde Park, an affluent Johannesburg suburb.

During sentencing proceedings last week, the court heard that the victim, Sipho Mahlangu—a security guard injured in the incident—will receive a total compensation of R400,000.

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Mahlangu has already been paid R250,000, with an outstanding R150,000 still due.

Investigating Officer Craig Raj testified in aggravation of sentence, emphasizing the seriousness of the offenses. Raj urged the court to impose a harsh sentence, noting that both accused have failed to disclose the whereabouts of the firearm used in the shooting.

The case has drawn attention due to its combination of violent crime and immigration-related offenses.

Legal experts say the outcome could set a precedent for how plea agreements involving multiple serious charges are handled in South African courts.

The court is expected to weigh several factors, including the guilty pleas, time already served, compensation paid to the victim, and the accused’s lack of cooperation regarding the missing weapon.

With arguments concluded, Mugabe and Matonhodze will learn their fate on Wednesday, as the court delivers its final judgment.

Madadeni, KwaZulu-Natal – A 28-year-old woman from Osizweni near Newcastle has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Madadeni Regional Court for the repeated rape of her 8-year-old biological brother.

The court imposed an additional five-year sentence for exposing the child to p@rnography.

The abuse took place at the family home in Osizweni, where the siblings lived with their mother. The woman pleaded guilty to the charges.

Authorities said the case came to light in 2024 after the boy attended a school awareness programme that encouraged learners to speak out about abuse.

In court, the prosecution highlighted the breach of trust, noting her role as an older sibling. The boy’s mother testified about the negative impact the abuse had on his behaviour.

The convicted woman has been listed on the National Register for S*x Offenders and declared unfit to possess a firearm.

​A 35-year-old man from Village Zebediah under Chief Njelele has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the attempted rape of a minor.

The Gokwe Regional Magistrates’ Court convicted Kupakwashe Hore following an incident that occurred earlier this month.

​The court heard that on April 5, 2026, at approximately 09:00 hours, Hore arrived at a local homestead and took the complainant away to a nearby field. The victim is a young girl aged between four and five years.

​While in the field, the offender undressed the child and lowered his own trousers. A local villager arrived at the scene just in time to intervene, pushing Hore away and rescuing the girl.

The witness then took the child back to her mother.

​A formal report was promptly filed at ZRP Gokwe. The victim was subsequently referred to Gokwe Hospital for a medical examination to assess any harm.

​In a statement following the sentencing, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) emphasized the importance of the ruling.

“The conviction and sentence reflect the gravity of sexual violence and the commitment of the NPAZ to ensure that those who act unlawfully face the full might of the law,” the authority stated.

​The NPAZ further noted that the safety and dignity of children within Zimbabwean communities remain paramount to the justice system.