Divided opinion on reports of South Africa granting Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity
Record ID:
906915
Divided opinion on reports of South Africa granting Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity
- Title: Divided opinion on reports of South Africa granting Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity
- Date: 18th August 2017
- Summary: HARARE, ZIMBABWE (FILE) (REUTERS) ZIMBABWEAN FIRST LADY, GRACE MUGABE, CUTTING BIRTHDAY CAKE WITH HER SON GRACE MUGABE CUTTING BIRTHDAY CAKE WITH ANOTHER SON
- Embargoed: 1st September 2017 12:00
- Keywords: Gabriella Engels Debbie Engels Grace Mugabe assault crime diplomatic immunity
- Location: JOHANNESBURG AND CENTURION, SOUTH AFRICA/ HARARE, ZIMBABWE
- City: JOHANNESBURG AND CENTURION, SOUTH AFRICA/ HARARE, ZIMBABWE
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
- Reuters ID: LVA0016UOMS7B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Opinion was divided on Friday (August 18) in South Africa where reports came out that the government is planning to grant diplomatic immunity to Zimbabwe's first lady Grace Mugabe, allowing her to return to Harare and avoid prosecution for the alleged assault of a 20-year-old model.
South African police have put border posts on "red alert" to prevent Mugabe fleeing and said she will not receive special treatment, after Gabriella Engels accused Mugabe of whipping her with an electric extension cable.
The source said there was "no way" Mugabe, 52, would be arrested for the alleged assault, but that Pretoria expected the granting of diplomatic immunity to be challenged in court.
The alleged victim, Gabriella Engels, said she was assaulted by Mugabe on Sunday evening as she waited with two friends in a luxury Johannesburg hotel suite to meet one of Mugabe's adult sons.
A lawyer for Mugabe identified by Reuters refused to comment.
Zimbabwe's 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe arrived early in Pretoria for a regional southern African summit this week to help resolve his wife's legal problems, a government source said.
Grace Mugabe is expected to attend the summit as part of a "first spouses" programme. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.