The civil rights watchdog AfriForum’s application against an earlier decision by the former Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to grant diplomatic immunity to the former first lady of Zimbabwe Grace Mugabe, will be heard in the High Court in Pretoria on 10 and 11 May.

Model Gabriella Engels brought charges of assault last year against Mugabe after she alleged that the former Zimbabwean first lady had whipped her with an electric cord in a luxury hotel in Sandton. Mugabe was then granted diplomatic immunity and left for Zimbabwe, evading prosecution.  

The civil rights movement said the court application was the first important step in a process to have Mugabe prosecuted for her alleged assault of Engels.

“Because of her being granted diplomatic immunity, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) could not further investigate the charges against Mugabe of assault with the intention to cause grievous bodily harm and AfriForum therefore launched a court application to have the controversial grant set aside,” said AfriForum.

The civil rights watchdog said should it be successful in having diplomatic immunity to Mugabe set aside, it would pave the way for the NPA to take steps to ultimately prosecute Mugabe.

AfriForum indicated earlier that its private prosecuting unit under leadership of Advocate Gerrie Nel was ready to institute private prosecution should the NPA decide not to prosecute Mugabe.