Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe’s lawyer confirmed that Chatunga and his cousin, Tobias Matonhodze, were in South Africa illegally. This is the main reason they withdrew their bail application at the Alexandra Magistrates Court in Johannesburg. Both men face charges of attempted murder and immigration offences.
The lawyer said they will now consider a guilty plea, admitting to some charges while negotiating for a lighter sentence. In a plea negotiation, the accused may plead guilty in exchange for a reduced or agreed-upon sentence.
This process, under Section 105A of the Criminal Procedure Act, is designed to speed up cases and reduce the time and cost of a full trial.
For now, both men remain in custody. They are expected back in court on March 17 for the plea negotiation.
Watch the video in the comments!It’s interesting how someone can come from so much privilege yet still overlook basic things like legal status in another country. Sometimes wealth gives people access to many things but it doesn’t always guarantee wisdom or careful judgment.
