Former Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe has reportedly reacted with anger following the arrest of her son, Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe, in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
Chatunga was taken into custody on 19 February 2026 after he was allegedly involved in a shooting incident at a residence in the affluent suburb. Reports indicate that a gardener was shot during an altercation and was rushed to hospital for medical treatment. A second suspect was also arrested at the scene, and the pair could face attempted murder charges.
According to information shared with SABC News, a source close to the Mugabe family claimed that Grace was deeply upset by the developments. The insider alleged that she had previously warned her children about their conduct, especially after earlier controversies involving Chatunga in Zimbabwe.
Chatunga has previously appeared in court in Zimbabwe following a violent incident at a mine and was also reportedly found in possession of dagga in a separate matter. These past brushes with the law are said to have heightened tensions within the family.
SABC journalist Sophie Mokoena reported that Grace had long expressed dissatisfaction with her children’s behaviour. During a visit to South Africa in 2017, she was allegedly angered by what she found at their residence. That visit made headlines after she was accused of assaulting South African model Gabriella Engels with an extension cord.
The incident led to legal action, with civil rights group AfriForum representing Engels. In 2018, South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority moved forward with charges against Grace. Her diplomatic immunity was later revoked, and a warrant of arrest was issued against her.
Because of the outstanding warrant, Grace Mugabe would face arrest if she were to return to South Africa. This legal complication makes it difficult for her to travel to the country to support her son as his case unfolds.
The arrest has reignited public debate, with many South Africans taking to social media to share their views. Some users argued that Grace should return to the country and face the legal consequences of the 2017 assault case. Others questioned whether she would risk arrest by setting foot in South Africa again.
Comments ranged from calls for accountability to sarcastic remarks about her current lifestyle abroad. Several social media users insisted that justice must apply equally, regardless of political connections or family name.
The Mugabe name continues to draw strong reactions in South Africa and Zimbabwe alike. Grace is the widow of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, who led Zimbabwe for nearly four decades before being removed from office in 2017.
As legal proceedings begin against Chatunga in Johannesburg, attention remains fixed on whether Grace Mugabe will attempt to intervene from abroad — or whether her own unresolved legal troubles in South Africa will keep her away.
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