Police wait for Grace to hand herself in
A FEW minutes before the Randburg Magistrate’s Court was to close for the day yesterday, it was unclear whether Grace Mugabe, first lady of Zimbabwe, would appear.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo told Independent Media: “The accused in the matter involved in the assault of a 20-year-old Johannesburg woman had made arrangements with police to hand herself over but she is yet to do so.”
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwana said it had not received a docket for the matter and, as such, could not proceed.
A large media contingent has been camping outside the court awaiting Mugabe’s arrival.
This comes after a model claimed that she was assaulted by Mugabe after being in the company of her two sons at the weekend.
Gabriella Engels alleged that the assault took place at the Capital 20 West hotel in Sandton on Sunday night.
Engels said she suffered gashes to her forehead and scalp.
In a statement released by the police, Naidoo said: “Since yesterday‚ it has emerged on several media and social media platforms that a 20-year-old South African woman was allegedly assaulted by a prominent woman at a hotel in Sandton.”
Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that Mugabe has returned to Zimbabwe after landing at the Harare International Airport. It remains unclear if a warrant of arrest has been issued.