In August 2017, while on a visit to South Africa, Grace Mugabe, wife of former Zimbabwean president, reportedly attacked a 20-year-old lady identified as Gabriella Engels, who was visiting her sons - Chatunga and Robert Junior in their hotel room of a Johannesburg hotel.
As a result of the attack which sources said was carried out using an electrical extension cord she picked up in the hotel, the young lady who claims to be a model suffered cuts to her forehead and the back of her head.
After the incident, South African police were handicapped in arresting Grace Mugabe because the government granted her diplomatic immunity which allowed her to leave South Africa without a trial.
AfriForum, the group representing Gabriella Engels in demanding justice against Grace Mugabe pushed further until the earlier decision was overturned by the courts in July. The courts labeled the actions of the foreign ministry as "inconsistent with the constitution".
Speaking on the court ruling, AfriForum director Kallie Kriel said:
"AfriForum first had to approach the court to have Mugabe's diplomatic immunity set aside, which paved the way for the police to investigate and it has now reached a point where an arrest can be made."
Miss Engels also accused Mrs. Mugabe's bodyguards of standing by without doing anything while the former first lady assaulted her.
The warrant for Grace Mugabe’s arrest was issued by the Randburg Magistrates Court in Gauteng province, charging Mrs. Mugabe with "assault causing grievous bodily harm".
Reacting to the extradition warrant, Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Information, Energy Mutodi has replied the South African authorities with a non-receipt notice.
Mutodi stated that they will not allow the wife of the immediate past president to be harassed, embarrassed or ill-treated while criticizing South African justice for reopening a case that, in Harare’s view, had already been closed.
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Karma haunts Zimbabwe's Former First Lady Mrs Grace Mugabe as SA issues a warrant for her arrest.
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