S/Africa grants Grace Mugabe immunity: Report

South Africa has granted 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, Reuters
has reported quoting a security source.

News about the immunity came as South African police put border
posts on “red alert” to prevent her fleeing.

The police had indicated she would receive no special treatment
in the case involving Gabriella Engels, who says Mugabe whipped her
with an electric extension cable.

A security source, however, said immunity had been granted.

The source also said Grace Mugabe failed to turn up at a
Johannesburg court hearing on Tuesday because of concerns she could
be attacked.

The alleged assault — Engels said it occurred on Sunday evening
as she waited with two friends in a luxury Johannesburg hotel suite
to meet one of Mugabe’s adult sons — is a diplomatic nightmare for
South Africa.

The country has a difficult relationship with its northern
neighbour. It is home to an estimated three million Zimbabwean
exiles who regard President Robert Mugabe as a dictator who has
ruined what was once one of Africa’s most promising
democracies.

Although he is also widely reviled in the West, Mugabe is seen
by many Africans as the continent’s elder statesman and a hero of
its anti-colonial struggles.

A senior government source said on Friday there was “no way”
Grace Mugabe, 52, would be arrested because of the diplomatic
fallout that would ensue from Zimbabwe.

Indeed, the 93-year old president himself arrived two days early
in Pretoria for a regional southern African summit this week to
help resolve his wife’s legal problems.

The government source accepted the view widely held by legal
experts that Grace Mugabe was not entitled to immunity because she
was in South Africa for medical treatment, and said the government
was expecting her immunity to be challenged in court.

However, the source said Pretoria justified its decision because
of other countries in southern Africa that supported South Africa’s
ruling ANC in the long struggle against apartheid would also see
Grace Mugabe’s prosecution as a betrayal.

“There would obviously be implications for our relations with
Zimbabwe. Sadly the other countries in the region are watching us
and how we are going to act,” the source said, asking not to be
named.

“What is likely to happen is that she will be allowed to go back
home, and then we announce that we’ve granted diplomatic immunity
and wait for somebody to challenge us.”

South Africa’s foreign ministry spokesman declined to comment
when contacted by Reuters.

“DISGRACE”

Engels’ mother Debbie, who released photographs of her daughter
with gashes to her head requiring 14 stitches, said it would be
“very sad” if Grace Mugabe was allowed to leave.

However, her daughter’s legal team — which includes Gerrie Nel,
the prosecutor who secured a murder conviction against Olympic and
Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius — would counter such a move,
she said.

“Gerrie Nel and the team have contingency plans,” she told
Reuters, without elaborating. “They will run with it.”

Afriforum, an Afrikaans rights group that Nel joined in January
after quitting as a state prosecutor, said it would be illegal for
Pretoria to give Mugabe immunity and branded the plans a
“disgrace”.

“The government has two responsibilities: one, to protect its
own citizens and two, to act according to the law. And the granting
of diplomatic immunity would transgress the law,” chief executive
Kallie Kriel said.

Harare has made no official comment on the saga and requests for
comment from Zimbabwean government officials have gone unanswered.
The South African government has restricted all official comment to
the police ministry.

The Engels incident is not the first time Grace Mugabe — who is
lauded in official Zimbabwean media as “Mother of the Nation” – has
been in legal hot water.

In 2009, a newspaper photographer in Hong Kong said Grace and
her bodyguard had assaulted him. Police said the incident was
reported but no charges were brought.

South Africa has granted 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, Reuters
has reported quoting a security source.

News about the immunity came as South African police put border
posts on “red alert” to prevent her fleeing.

The police had indicated she would receive no special treatment
in the case involving Gabriella Engels, who says Mugabe whipped her
with an electric extension cable.

A security source, however, said immunity had been granted.

The source also said Grace Mugabe failed to turn up at a
Johannesburg court hearing on Tuesday because of concerns she could
be attacked.

The alleged assault — Engels said it occurred on Sunday evening
as she waited with two friends in a luxury Johannesburg hotel suite
to meet one of Mugabe’s adult sons — is a diplomatic nightmare for
South Africa.

The country has a difficult relationship with its northern
neighbour. It is home to an estimated three million Zimbabwean
exiles who regard President Robert Mugabe as a dictator who has
ruined what was once one of Africa’s most promising
democracies.

Although he is also widely reviled in the West, Mugabe is seen
by many Africans as the continent’s elder statesman and a hero of
its anti-colonial struggles.

A senior government source said on Friday there was “no way”
Grace Mugabe, 52, would be arrested because of the diplomatic
fallout that would ensue from Zimbabwe.

Indeed, the 93-year old president himself arrived two days early
in Pretoria for a regional southern African summit this week to
help resolve his wife’s legal problems.

The government source accepted the view widely held by legal
experts that Grace Mugabe was not entitled to immunity because she
was in South Africa for medical treatment, and said the government
was expecting her immunity to be challenged in court.

However, the source said Pretoria justified its decision because
of other countries in southern Africa that supported South Africa’s
ruling ANC in the long struggle against apartheid would also see
Grace Mugabe’s prosecution as a betrayal.

“There would obviously be implications for our relations with
Zimbabwe. Sadly the other countries in the region are watching us
and how we are going to act,” the source said, asking not to be
named.

“What is likely to happen is that she will be allowed to go back
home, and then we announce that we’ve granted diplomatic immunity
and wait for somebody to challenge us.”

South Africa’s foreign ministry spokesman declined to comment
when contacted by Reuters.

“DISGRACE”

Engels’ mother Debbie, who released photographs of her daughter
with gashes to her head requiring 14 stitches, said it would be
“very sad” if Grace Mugabe was allowed to leave.

However, her daughter’s legal team — which includes Gerrie Nel,
the prosecutor who secured a murder conviction against Olympic and
Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius — would counter such a move,
she said.

“Gerrie Nel and the team have contingency plans,” she told
Reuters, without elaborating. “They will run with it.”

Afriforum, an Afrikaans rights group that Nel joined in January
after quitting as a state prosecutor, said it would be illegal for
Pretoria to give Mugabe immunity and branded the plans a
“disgrace”.

“The government has two responsibilities: one, to protect its
own citizens and two, to act according to the law. And the granting
of diplomatic immunity would transgress the law,” chief executive
Kallie Kriel said.

Harare has made no official comment on the saga and requests for
comment from Zimbabwean government officials have gone unanswered.
The South African government has restricted all official comment to
the police ministry.

The Engels incident is not the first time Grace Mugabe — who is
lauded in official Zimbabwean media as “Mother of the Nation” – has
been in legal hot water.

In 2009, a newspaper photographer in Hong Kong said Grace and
her bodyguard had assaulted him. Police said the incident was
reported but no charges were brought.