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South African warrant issued for Grace Mugabe’s arrest

A South African court ruled that the decision to grant diplomatic immunity to Grace Mugabe was illegal.

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Authorities in South Africa have issued an arrest warrant for the wife of former Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe over an alleged assault.

The warrant follows a long legal process during which a South African court this year ruled that the government acted illegally in granting diplomatic immunity to Grace Mugabe when the alleged attack was first reported.

It also marked another setback for Grace and Robert Mugabe, who have kept a mostly low profile since the former president was forced from office in November 2017.

Robert Mugabe, whose command over Zimbabwe once seemed impregnable, is now 94 years old and ailing.

“I can confirm that a warrant for the arrest of Grace Mugabe was issued last Thursday. We are following the Interpol processes,” said South African police Brig Vishnu Naidoo.

Whether Zimbabwe would assist South African authorities with any extradition request is in doubt, though the arrest warrant means Grace Mugabe would be vulnerable if she visits her sons, who stay in South Africa. She also owns a house there.

Grace Mugabe allegedly attacked model Gabriella Engels in a hotel on August 13, 2017, whipping her with an extension cable that cut her forehead.

However, Mrs Mugabe was allowed to return to Zimbabwe despite calls for her prosecution.

She travelled with her husband, who was then president of Zimbabwe and attending a regional summit in Pretoria.

Robert Mugabe was ousted only a few months later after a military takeover, impeachment proceedings led by the ruling party that once backed him and large demonstrations for his removal.

Representatives of Grace Mugabe have said that Ms Engels was the actual aggressor in the altercation between the two.

AfriForum, a South African group that represented Ms Engels, said the court ruling that Grace Mugabe had no right to diplomatic immunity had allowed police to proceed with an investigation.

“We’re now at a point where an arrest is possible,” said Kallie Kriel, the group’s CEO.

“We believe that this sends out a strong message that nobody is above the law, not even if your surname is Mugabe.”

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