South Africa grants Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity despite ‘assault’

South Africa granted Zimbabwe’s first lady, Grace Mugabe, diplomatic immunity yesterday after a model accused her of assault in an upmarket Johannesburg hotel room. “I hereby recognise the immunities and privileges of the first lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Grace Mugabe,” said international relations and co-operation minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane in a notice in the Government

Gazette on Sunday.

The wife of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe returned home from South Africa despite calls to stop her leaving after she was accused of assault.

Mrs Mugabe greeted government and military officials at Harare airport after returning on an Air Zimbabwe flight with her husband, who had attended a summit of southern African leaders in Pretoria.

Gabriella Engels, 20, said Mrs Mugabe attacked her on August 13, whipping her with an electrical extension cord that cut her forehead.

A group representing Ms Engels said yesterday that they would go to court to challenge the South African government if immunity was granted.

“We will take a long-term approach,” said Willie Spies, legal representative at AfriForum, an organisation that primarily represents South Africa’s white Afrikaner minority.

“She may be back in Zimbabwe but it may mean that she will find it very difficult to come back to South Africa in the future,” Mr Spies said.