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Zimbabwe's First Lady Grace Mugabe 'to hand herself in to police' over assault on model in South Africa Grace Mugabe back in Zimbabwe after being accused of assaulting model in South Africa
(about 3 hours 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. Zimbabwe's first lady, Grace Mugabe, returned home on Tuesday from South Africa after failing to turn herself in to police in Johannesburg to face charges of assaulting a model in a hotel room.
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. There was no immediate public comment on the case from Grace, 52, a possible successor to her husband President Robert Mugabe, 93, who has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980. But Zimbabwe government sources confirmed she had returned home.
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. "Yes, she is back in the country. We don't know where this issue of assault charges is coming from," said a senior government official, who declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the press.
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. A second official also confirmed that Grace had returned, saying "she is around now" and accused the media of a plot to tarnish the first family's name.
"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. Earlier, South African police had been negotiating with Grace's lawyers to get her to turn herself in to face charges of assault, a senior police 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.” Twenty-year-old Gabriella Engels told South African media Grace had attacked her after the model had gone to see the Mugabes' sons Robert and Chatunga at a hotel in Johannesburg's upmarket Sandton district on Sunday.
Neither Grace Mugabe, Zimbabwe information minister Christopher Mushohwe nor Mr Mugabe’s spokesman, George Charamba, were available to comment. Confusion surrounded the case on Tuesday. South African police minister Fikile Mbalula said early in the day Grace had already handed herself in to police and would appear in court shortly.
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. But in the afternoon, the magistrates' court where Grace had been expected to be formally charged closed for the day without her appearing.
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. The police source said Grace had earlier agreed to hand herself over at 10 a.m. local time but failed to do so.
“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. The source said police were investigating a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
“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.” Asked if Grace was now considered a fugitive, the source said that was not the case at this stage.
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. "One cannot be a fugitive for not appearing at a court to which they have not been summoned & when they have not been charged of any crime!" Grace's close ally and Zimbabwe's higher education minister Jonathan Moyo tweeted.
South African media said Grace had been 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 despite having diplomatic immunity, minister Mbalula said: "All those implications will be taken into consideration." He then added: "She will be charged."
A Zimbabwean intelligence source said Grace had been travelling on an ordinary non-diplomatic passport and was in South Africa on personal business.
The News24 website quoted Engels' version of events in the hotel room. "When Grace entered, I had no idea who she was. She walked in with an extension cord and just started beating me with it," the model said.
"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 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. "I just want justice," Engels told Talk Radio 702.
Regent manager Imelda Fincham did not elaborate but confirmed the pair had left. “They’re no longer here,” she said. "She just completely lost it. I was hit all over my body. I have bruises all over my body ... I have two open wounds at the back of my head as well."
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. Mugabe's two sons were kicked out of the Regent luxury apartment complex in Sandton last month after an incident in the middle of the night, staff at the complex told Reuters.
President Mugabe spoke at a public event marking Defence Forces Day in Harare on Tuesday, but did not mention Ms Mugabe. Regent manager Imelda Fincham did not elaborate but confirmed the pair had left. "They're no longer here," she said.
Ms Mugabe was in the news in late July when she challenged her president husband to name his preferred successor. In 2009, a press photographer in Hong Kong said Grace and her bodyguard had assaulted him. Police there said the incident was reported but that no charges were brought.
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. President Mugabe spoke at a public event marking Defence Forces Day in Harare on Tuesday, but did not mention Grace.
Grace was in the news in late July when she challenged her husband to name his preferred successor.
The issue of who will succeed Mugabe has deeply divided Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party. One faction supports Grace and the other Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is recovering in a South African hospital after he fell ill and was airlifted from Zimbabwe.
ReutersReuters