Three South African rights groups have joined forces with the Democratic Alliance (DA) to set aside the diplomatic immunity granted to former Zimbabwean First Lady Grace Mugabe to shield her from being tried for allegedly assaulting a South African model at a Sandton hotel four months ago.
The High Court in Pretoria granted leave to Freedom Under Law (FUL), the Commission for Gender Equality and the Women’s Legal Centre Trust (WLC) to intervene in the DA’s application as friends of the court and to make legal submissions.
The DA’s application will be heard next year with a separate application by model Gabriella Engels and AfriForum to set aside International Relations and Co-operation minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane’s August decision to recognise Grace’s diplomatic immunity.
Engels laid a charge of assault against Mugabe after she burst into a Sandton hotel room and allegedly used an electric cord with a plug at the end to hit her on the head on August 13.
Engels maintained diplomatic immunity legislation excluded granting it to heads of State who behaved in a criminal manner and caused death or injury to South African citizens, and that granting it to Grace was invalid.
The DA said Nkoana-Mashabane’s decision constituted an irrational abuse of statutory power and should be set aside as unconstitutional.
Nkoana-Mashabane, in court papers, said Grace, as the wife of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, had “spousal immunity” under international law.
Not granting immunity to her would have had serious implications for international relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe and would have caused chaos and collapsed the Southern African Development Community summit which Pretoria was hosting, she said.
The South African minister said she had considered Engels’ interest but had to recognise Mugabe’s spousal immunity.
FUL said the decision that spouses of heads of State had the same immunity as their partners offended SA’s Bill of Rights, including the right to dignity, equality and to be free from all forms of violence.
WLC said Grace’s immunity had grave implications for the jurisprudence on violence against women and the State’s obligations in respect thereof.- Newsday
8 Replies to “Grace Mugabe’s Enemies Brew More Trouble In South Africa”
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BHANDAfor malawi
lacoste for EVVVVEEEEERRRR
fokoff
But I don’t think Grace mugabe was representing or avenging the lives of those killed in South Africa. Given her fascinating arrogance Grace would pee on those dead bodies as she runs to pay off her Rolls Royce. A bit of prosecution would bring her to her senses I think.
What’s wrong with you people and the overworked imagination? lol
Who the hell is going to dare touch African Lioness, Mai Mugabe? WHO?
If you really think that Zim Patriots would sit back and allow you fools to wail on the wife of Mhondoro Mugabe with impunity, then you must be on a bad drug trip.
African Lioness, Mai Mugabe, IS UNTOUCHABLE!
Always remember that!
Grace will wish she had allowed herself to be prosecuted while Mugabe still had sway.
The DA should go to hell and their so called afriforum watch dog. When Zimbabweans were being killed in South Africa noone cared about it and noone raised a voice over now that this has to do Mugabe’s family they are it’s not fair. The other thing is that they musn’t forget that they are lawyer who says when you weddy you become one, so Grace Mugabe derseves that immunity.
There is nothing so special about a scur than precious lifes of Zimbabweans lost in South Africa then you want to lecture the world about the law.
To hell hell with you we don’t care about it this not about Zimbabwe and South Africa, but whites targeting the World ICON Cde R.G.Mugabe.
There’s Zimbabweans who have been killed, countless in number and no one ever pushed for justice from any corner of the world. Yes Grace beat up some girl in South Africa but South Africans killed Zimbabweans and that was not news or justice worthy.