*South African police have issued an arrest warrant for Zimbabwe’s former first lady, Grace Mugabe, after she allegedly attacked a nightclub hostess who was left needing stitches for head injuries.
Gabriella Engels was visiting with Mugabe’s two sons at a hotel in Johannesburg when Mugabe allegedly entered the room and attacked her and her friends with an extension cord.
“When Grace entered, I had no idea who she was,” Engels told local media in August 2017. Mugabe’s sons were reportedly staying in a room nearby and it wasn’t immediately clear what prompted the alleged attack.
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“She walked in with an extension cord and just started beating me with it,” Engels said. “She flipped and just kept beating me with the plug. Over and over. I had no idea what was going on.”
After the incident in July last year, Mugabe ignored a police request for a statement, instead, she left South Africa after being granted diplomatic immunity.
Months later, her husband, Robert, Zimbabwe’s longtime president, was forced from office. In late July 2018, a court overturned the government’s decision to grant Mrs. Mugabe diplomatic immunity, allowing for the possibility of her arrest.
Now, South African police are pursuing her once again.
“This is the result of a very long process,” said Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, an advocacy group calling for Mugabe’s arrest. “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.”
“We hope this sends a very clear message that no one is above the law,” Kriel added, “even if your name is Mugabe.”
