Will Grace Mugabe risk extradition now that immunity has been set aside?



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The South Gauteng High Court overturned the decision to grant Zimbabwe's former first lady, Grace Mugabe, diplomatic immunity.

Judge Bashier Vally delivered his judgment on Monday and said that the decision to grant diplomatic immunity to Mugabe was illegal and unconstitutional. The Democratic Alliance is now calling for the issuance of an arrest warrant against Mugabe.

Mugabe was involved in a physical altercation with the South African model Gabriella Engels last year, when Mugabe had found her in a Sandton hotel with her two sons.

During the altercation, Engels suffered head injuries, and claimed that Mugabe had struck him with an electrical outlet.

Mugabe then replied that she had acted in self-defense.

The case was taken over by AfriForum, who sued the case after Mugabe obtained diplomatic immunity and was allowed to leave the country for his country of origin, Zimbabwe.

The decision to grant her diplomatic immunity was taken by the former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, even though Mugabe was in the country in a personal capacity at the time. ;time. Vally said his decision was inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution.

The judge also ordered Nkoana-Mashabane to pay the costs of the application, submitted by the AD.

"Following this judgment, an arrest warrant against Grace Mugabe must be reissued for the aggression of Ms. Engels and we expect the South African Government to work with all concerned parties to make sure that Ms Mugabe returns to South Africa court to answer for her actions, "said James Selfe DA.

Lawyer Willie Spies appeared in court on behalf of AfriForum and stated that there was now no obstacle to the fact that the National Authority in charge of prosecution does its job.

"This is a simple and healthy case." The NPA can now begin an extradition procedure for Ms. Mugabe.The charges were laid last year already, there is a role, there are witnesses … it's just a matter of getting things moving. "

Mugabe was standing with her husband this weekend in Zimbabwe on the eve of national elections that saw thousands citizens queuing at the polls.

In his first public speech, former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, disgraced, told the media on Sunday that his wife should be left alone.

"I do not accept the defamation of my wife, they attack her through the newspapers, leave my wife alone, I want Grace to remain my grace," he said.

Grace was introduced to become the country's president last year, before attempts at this takeover were quickly thwarted during a military coup when the first controversial family was ousted from power.

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