Where is Zimbabwe’s first lady? Grace a no show in Johannesburg for assaulting model

 

 Grace Mugabe, her sons and model she allegedly assaulted

Zimbabwe’s first lady Grace Mugabe stands accused of assaulting a model Gabriella Engels Grace allegedly beat her up with a cable wire for hanging out with her sons She was expected in court in Johannesburg

An assault case involving Zimbabwe’s First Lady Grace Mugabe and a model has taken a new twist after Grace reportedly flew out of South Africa and was a no show in court.

The South African police were at pains to explain her whereabouts despite stating that the First Lady had handed herself to the police to answer charges.

A senior Zimbabwean government official told Reuters that the First Lady had returned to Harare but could not confirm the status of the accusations.

“Yes, she is back in the country. We don’t know where this issue of assault charges is coming from,” the official told Reuters.

The incident had attracted media attention including Zimbabwe’s opposition figure Nqabutho Mabhena- leader of the Communist party- who called for action.

 “We want the South African police to arrest Grace Mugabe…You cannot beat up a young lady for going out with your son.” Mabhena was quoted as saying.

 The model was allegedly assaulted at a hotel

The model, Gabriella Engels, had kicked a storm after she claimed that Grace had beaten her up with a cable wire for hanging out with her sons, Robert and Chatunga.

 “We were chilling in a hotel room, and the sons were in the room next door. She came in and started hitting us,

“She flipped and just kept beating me with the plug, over and over… I had no idea what was going on ... I was surprised. I had to crawl out of the room before I could run away,

 “The front of my forehead is busted open. I’m a model and I make my money based on my looks.” Engels was quoted as saying by the Guardian.