Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the son of Zimbabwe’s late former president Robert Mugabe, has reportedly resurfaced in South Africa months after being deported, following a series of Instagram posts in which he appeared to indicate that he was back in the country.
Mugabe’s reported return has raised questions about how he could have re-entered South Africa after a court ordered his deportation in April 2026.
Why was Mugabe deported?
Mugabe was deported to Zimbabwe on 29 April 2026 after appearing before the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court in Johannesburg.
He pleaded guilty to pointing an object resembling a firearm in a manner that could cause someone to believe it was a real weapon, as well as contravening South Africa’s immigration laws by remaining in the country illegally.
The court imposed a total fine of R600,000, with imprisonment as an alternative to paying the fines, and ordered his immediate deportation.
The case followed a separate shooting incident at a Hyde Park residence in February, in which an employee was wounded. Mugabe and his cousin, Tobias Matonhodze, were arrested in connection with the incident, although Mugabe’s guilty pleas and sentence related to the firearm-pointing and immigration offences.
Mugabe’s legal representative subsequently said he was prohibited from re-entering South Africa for five years.
Mugabe posts on Instagram
In a series of Instagram posts now circulating online, Mugabe appeared to indicate that he was back in South Africa.
He also shared what he described as an address in the Sandhurst area of Johannesburg and issued a warning to those asking for the location.
“And Those Of Yall Who Are Asking For The Address it’s 37 KILLARNEY, SANDHURST, But what ever will happen to you after we will not be liable you have been warned.”
In another post, Mugabe reportedly claimed that South Africans were jealous of him because he was a blessed 29-year-old.
The posts have fuelled speculation about his whereabouts and whether he has returned to the country despite the deportation order.
However, the social media posts have not, on their own, independently established his current physical location. Confirmation from the relevant authorities regarding his alleged return has not been provided in the information available.
Questions over his reported return
The latest claims follow an earlier controversy in July, when a photograph allegedly showing Mugabe in Midrand circulated online. At the time, his lawyer, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, dismissed the claims, saying the photograph was old and insisting that his client was not in South Africa.
Mugabe’s latest posts have once again drawn attention to his status following his deportation.
Whether he has re-entered South Africa and, if so, under what circumstances remains to be officially established.
