Grace Mugabe in 'panic mode' after son's arrest

The former First Lady of Zimbabwe, Grace Mugabe, is said to be in ‘panic mode’ following the arrest of her son Bellarmine Mugabe (28), in Johannesburg, as she is unable to travel to SA due to an outstanding 2018 arrest warrant. Two insiders close to the family on Friday told News24 that Grace, who is living in Singapore, has been in constant communication with relatives and associates in SA since her son’s arrest. ‘She is panicking. She wants to be with her son,’ one source said. The warrant was issued in December 2018 after she allegedly assaulted Gabriella Engels, Bellarmine’s girlfriend, at a luxury Sandton hotel in 2017, using an electric extension cord. ‘She wants to urgently come to SA to attend her son’s attempted murder case,’ another source said. ‘Now she fears being arrested. We are updating her constantly. She is also worried about Bellarmine’s safety in prison.’ Bellarmine is the son of Grace and the late former Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe. He and a friend were arrested on Thursday after he allegedly shot a man described as the family gardener at the Mugabe residence in northern Johannesburg. Bellarmine’s lawyer, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, declined to comment. According to sources, the gardener was shot twice in the back while fleeing from the property on Thursday. Neighbours rescued the injured man after alerting security guards, who summoned help.

Mugabe has allegedly told police that the man who was shot on his property is his security guard, and that he shot himself during a scuffle. According to the sources, Mugabe told police that the conflict with his security guard started after the guard had allegedly performed traditional rituals on the property that he disapproved of. City Press reports that the property allegedly houses many of the late Zimbabwean President’s loyalists. Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed on Thursday that two men were arrested and were expected to appear before the Alexandra Magistrate's Court today. Mugabe and his bodyguard remain in custody at the Bramley Police Station. News24 understands that he collapsed on Thursday night and again in the early hours of Friday morning while being held in police cells. A senior police officer close to the investigation said: ‘We swiftly attended to him. He has revealed to us his medical condition. We immediately informed his lawyers and those close to him to quickly bring in his medication.’ Sources close to Bellarmine claim he suffers from a chronic medical condition and relies on daily medication.