This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/grace-mugabe-robert-zimbabwe-first-lady-south-africa-model-assault-police-hands-herself-in-a7894646.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe's First Lady Grace Mugabe hands herself in to police to face charges for assault on model in South Africa | Zimbabwe's First Lady Grace Mugabe hands herself in to police to face charges for assault on model in South Africa |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Zimbabwe’s first lady, Grace Mugabe, handed herself in to South African police on Tuesday and will be charged with assault after she reportedly attacked a young woman in Johannesburg, the police minister said. | |
| Fikile Mbalula earlier told reporters that 52-year-old Ms Mugabe, a possible successor to her husband, 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe, had cooperated with police. | Fikile Mbalula earlier told reporters that 52-year-old Ms Mugabe, a possible successor to her husband, 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe, had cooperated with police. |
| South African media said Ms Mugabe was in the country to have an injured foot examined. It was unclear whether she was travelling on a diplomatic passport. | South African media said Ms Mugabe was in the country to have an injured foot examined. It was unclear whether she was travelling on a diplomatic passport. |
| On whether she could be arrested while having diplomatic immunity, Mr Mbalula said: “All those implications will be taken into consideration.” He then added: “She will be charged.” | |
| “She is not under arrest because she cooperated and handed herself over to the police. But a case has been opened,” he said. | |
| It was not clear at which court Ms Mugabe would appear. | It was not clear at which court Ms Mugabe would appear. |
| Neither Grace Mugabe, Zimbabwe information minister Christopher Mushohwe nor Mr Mugabe’s spokesman, George Charamba, were available to comment. | |
| A Zimbabwean intelligence source said Ms Mugabe had been travelling on an ordinary non-diplomatic passport. “She was here on business,” the source told Reuters. | |
| South Africa’s News24 website said 20-year-old model Gabriella Engels had been visiting the Mugabes’ sons, Robert and Chatunga, at a hotel in the upmarket Sandton district over the weekend when she was set upon by Ms Mugabe. | |
| “When Grace entered, I had no idea who she was. She walked in with an extension cord and just started beating me with it,” she told the news website. | |
| “She flipped and just kept beating me with the plug. Over and over. I had no idea what was going on. I was surprised ... I needed to crawl out of the room before I could run away.” | |
| News24 published a picture of what it said was Ms Engels with a large gash in her forehead. “I am a model, with this scar over my face my whole career is ruined,” she said. | |
| It was unclear what triggered the incident. | It was unclear what triggered the incident. |
| The Mugabes’ two sons were kicked out of the Regent luxury apartment complex in Sandton a month ago after an incident in the middle of the night, staff at the complex told Reuters. | |
| Regent manager Imelda Fincham did not elaborate but confirmed the pair had left. “They’re no longer here,” she said. | |
| In 2009, a press photographer in Hong Kong said Ms Mugabe and her bodyguard had assaulted him. Police there said the incident was reported but that no charges were brought. | In 2009, a press photographer in Hong Kong said Ms Mugabe and her bodyguard had assaulted him. Police there said the incident was reported but that no charges were brought. |
| President Mugabe spoke at a public event marking Defence Forces Day in Harare on Tuesday, but did not mention Ms Mugabe. | President Mugabe spoke at a public event marking Defence Forces Day in Harare on Tuesday, but did not mention Ms Mugabe. |
| Ms Mugabe was in the news in late July when she challenged her president husband to name his preferred successor. | Ms Mugabe was in the news in late July when she challenged her president husband to name his preferred successor. |
| The issue of who will succeed Mr Mugabe has deeply divided Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party. One faction supports Ms Mugabe and the other Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is recovering in a South African hospital after he fell ill and was airlifted from Zimbabwe. | |
| Reuters | Reuters |