South Africa Issues Arrest Warrant For Grace Mugabe

South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority has issued an arrest warrant for Zimbabwe's former first lady Grace Mugabe over an alleged assault of the country’s citizen in an upmarket district of Johannesburg last year, it has emerged. 

After the alleged assault with an electric cable came to light in August 2017, the South African government granted Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity.

That immunity was overturned by a South African court this year after the alleged victim, model Gabriella Engels, challenged the decision.

"I can confirm that a warrant for the arrest of Grace Mugabe was issued last Thursday," South African Police Service spokesman Vishnu Naidoo said, adding that police were seeking Interpol's help to enforce the warrant.

Mrs Mugabe was seen as a potential successor to her 94-year-old husband Robert, who ruled Zimbabwe from 1980 until he was ousted in a coup late last year, at the time of the incident in a luxury hotel in Johannesburg's Sandton district.

She has denied assaulting Engels with an electric cable, saying an "intoxicated and unhinged" Engels attacked her with a knife after the model had gone to see the Mugabes' sons at the hotel.

South African advocacy group Afriforum, which represented Engels, has dismissed Mrs Mugabe's denial as a lie. AfriForum also announced the development during a press conference.

“We can report that the warrant of arrest has been issued for Grace Mugabe,” said AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel. “It seems that justice is going to take place and we are looking forward to this matter going forward.”

Mrs Mugabe has retreated from the limelight in Zimbabwe since her husband was ousted in the November 2017 coup.

The DA and AfriForum applied to have Mugabe’s diplomatic immunity revoked after she allegedly assaulted South African model Gabriella Engels at a hotel in Johannesburg in 2017.

Mugabe’s wife allegedly assaulted Engels after she found the model partying with her two sons at a Sandton hotel. Engels suffered serious injuries‚ including a gash on her forehead.

Although charges were laid‚ Mugabe was controversially allowed to leave the country after being granted diplomatic immunity.