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Zimbabwe's First Lady Grace Mugabe 'to hand herself in to police' over assault on model in South Africa | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Zimbabwe’s first lady, Grace Mugabe, appears set to hand herself in to South African police and will likely be charged with assault after she reportedly attacked a young woman in Johannesburg, police have said. | |
Police minister 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. |
South African police were still negotiating with Ms Mugabe's legal team to get the wife of the Zimbabwean president to hand herself in to authorities and appear in court over the allegations, a senior police source said. | |
"The negotiations for her to hand herself in are still going on. We are at a point where we cannot effect an arrest yet," the source said. | |
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.” | 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.” |
Neither Grace Mugabe, Zimbabwe information minister Christopher Mushohwe nor Mr Mugabe’s spokesman, George Charamba, were available to comment. | 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. | 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. | 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. | “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.” | “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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 |