PRETORIA, South African prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for Zimbabwe’s ex-first lady, Grace Mugabe, for allegedly assaulting a model in 2017, police say.

The move comes after a court annulled her diplomatic immunity in July.

South Africa’s government was criticised for letting Grace Mugabe leave the country after the alleged assault.

Gabriella Engels accused Grace of beating the “hell out of me” with an electric extension cord in a hotel room in Johannesburg.

Grace said at the time that she had acted in self-defence after the “intoxicated and unhinged” model attacked her in the room where her two sons lived.

Police spokesman Vishnu Naidoo said: “I can confirm that a warrant for the arrest of Grace Mugabe was issued last Thursday.”

He said police were seeking the assistance of Interpol to enforce the warrant.

It is unclear why the reporting of the warrant was delayed and there has been no response yet from Grace or Zimbabwean authorities.

The Mugabe family owns properties in South Africa.

The alleged assault took place about three months before the military takeover in Zimbabwe, which saw Robert Mugabe resign as president after 37 years in power.

The alleged assault took place in August 2017 after Grace found Engels with her two sons, Robert and Chatunga, in a hotel room in Sandton, a wealthy suburb in the city’s north.

Source: Nam News Network