Bellarmine Mugabe's lawyer says viral Midrand shopping photo is ‘old’
Lawyers for Bellarmine Mugabe have denied reports that he was recently spotted shopping in South Africa, claiming the viral photo is old. Mugabe is currently banned from entering South Africa for five years following a previous court conviction.
Why it matters
The story highlights the intersection of social media misinformation and legal enforcement regarding high-profile political figures.
The lawyer representing Bellarmine Mugabe has dismissed claims that Mugabe was recently spotted shopping in Midrand, South Africa, saying the viral social media image is “old” and that his client has not returned to the country since his deportation in April.
The photograph, which went viral on social media, allegedly shows the son of the late Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe shopping at Waterfall Corner in Midrand.
However, his lawyer, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, said the claim is false and misleading.
“We’ve taken instructions regarding the whereabouts of Mr Mugabe, and our instructions are clear. Mr Mugabe is currently not in the Republic of South Africa,” Mnguni said in an interview with the public broadcaster.
Mnguni declined to disclose Mugabe’s current location.
“I’m not at liberty to disclose where he is, but I can assure you that he’s not within the borders of the Republic of South Africa,” he said.
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