Afrikaner lobby group Afriforum is heading to court to challenge a decision by the previous South African government to grant Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity.
Zimbabwe’s former first lady is accused of assaulting model Gabriella Engels with an electric cord at an upmarket Johannesburg hotel, where her two sons were staying, in August last year.
Mrs. Mugabe was expected to appear in court over the incident, but, in a controversial turn of events, the South African government granted her diplomatic immunity which allowed her to leave the country in the middle of the night.
The application, if successful, would pave the way for South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority to resume legal action against Mrs Mugabe.
Ms. Engels says she was confident that Mugabe would be extradited so that she could account for the alleged crime.
“I am positive that all will go well today and tomorrow. I am happy that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is taking this matter very seriously and I know that she will come face the full might of the law. I really hope that she comes back to account but I leave it all in God’s hands to get us through everything.”
Mrs Mugabe has denied attacking the model and said she was defending herself from a knife wielding and intoxicated young woman.
