Overview
- Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and co-accused Tobias Matonhodze appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court and were kept in custody, with a bail application set for 3 March.
- Prosecutors added defeating the ends of justice and firearm possession to the attempted murder charge, tying the new counts to the unrecovered weapon.
- Police say the firearm has not been found despite K9 and dive-team searches, though spent cartridges were recovered during the forensic sweep.
- The 23-year-old employee identified as the gardener remains in critical condition, and investigators say the motive is still unclear after reports of an altercation or labour dispute.
- The state signaled reliance on the doctrine of common purpose and is verifying the accuseds’ status with Home Affairs while opposing their immediate release.