Bellarmine Mugabe, the 28-year-old youngest son of Zimbabwe’s late president Robert Mugabe, has been formally charged with attempted murder after a shooting incident in an affluent Johannesburg suburb left a 23-year-old man critically injured.

Mugabe was arrested last week at a property in Hyde Park and appeared in a Johannesburg court dressed in black. He remained composed during the brief proceedings and has not publicly commented on the allegations. Also charged is 33-year-old Tobias Tamirepi Matonhodze, who has been detained alongside Mugabe.

Prosecutors say the pair face additional charges, including defeating the ends of justice, a count linked to the fact that police have recovered bullet cartridges at the scene but have so far not found a firearm. According to a statement from the National Prosecuting Authority, an altercation took place inside Mugabe’s home between the accused and the victim. Prosecutors allege the 23-year-old then attempted to flee, was shot in the back, and collapsed outside the property’s gate, which was subsequently closed.

The victim was transported to hospital and remains in critical condition. Outside court, Mugabe’s lawyer, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, told reporters his client was “fine” while in custody.

Bellarmine Mugabe is the son of Robert Mugabe and his second wife, Grace Mugabe. Robert Mugabe, who led Zimbabwe for 37 years, died in 2019 after being forced from power in 2017.

The matter was adjourned and the case will return to court on March 3, when a bail application is expected to be heard.