Court orders Bellarmine Mugabe's immediate deportation

Lawyers for Bellarmine Mugabe are facilitating his release and departure from South Africa after the Alexandra Magistrate's Court ordered his immediate deportation.

This comes after the 29-year-old first-time offender was fined a total of R600,000 or three and a half years in prison for pointing an object resembling a firearm and contravening immigration laws.

His cousin and co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, has been sentenced to an effective 3 years in prison for four charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and attempted murder.

This is in relation to a shooting incident that occurred at a residence in Hyde Park in February this year.

In handing down the sentence, Magistrate Renier Boshoff said he took into account all relevant circumstances for both accused, including that the victim had not cooperated with the police during the investigation and had been paid R400, 000 to withdraw the charges.

ALSO READ: Mugabe sidesteps imprisonment, Matonhodze gets jail time

Boshoff said that because of this fact, the state stood no chance of getting a conviction if the matter went to trial.

Adding that both accused had indicated from the outset their intention to plead guilty.

Boshoff accepted that Mugabe and co-accused showed remorse and said their actions reflected restorative justice.

In addition to the total R600,000 fine imposed, the court has ordered that Mugabe be deported to Zimbabwe immediately under police escort.

Investigating officer Colonel CP Raj has been tasked with escorting Mugabe to OR Tambo International Airport to ensure his departure from the country.

His lawyers are currently at the court to facilitate payment of the fines, coordinate his plane ticket and escort him to the airport.