Afriforum is set to file papers in court seeking permission to sue Zimbabwe’s First Lady Grace Mugabe, who allegedly assaulted South African model, Gabriella Engels, said to have been found socializing with her children Robert Junior and Chatunga at a Sandton hotel.
Willie Spies, attorney at Afriforum representing Engels, told VOA Studio 7 that they expect to be granted permission by the South African courts to serve papers on President Robert Mugabe in Harare.
Spies said serving the papers on President Mugabe would ensure that “Mrs. Mugabe also gets notice of the application. So, the process on the 19th of September is to actually file an application in which we will ask the courts for permission to sue Mrs. Mugabe here.”
He noted that papers that are also being issued against International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana Mashabane are seeking the setting aside of the diplomatic immunity granted to Mrs. Mugabe.
“The papers that we are serving are papers attacking the immunity that was granted. We say that it was granted unlawfully, our legislation does not provide for that and we are applying for a court order to set aside that immunity.”
He said the messenger of court is expected to serve papers on the minister of international relations within the next few days.
The attorney dismissed as unjustifiable suggestions that they should also file the paper in Zimbabwean courts saying the courts in that country have been degraded by President Mugabe’s government.
“I am very doubtful if we will pursue justice through Zimbabwean courts. We do not have lots of trust in the Zimbabwean legal system. To be honest the legal system in Zimbabwe from experience that we have, has been corrupted by the Mugabe regime.”
Mrs. Mugabe allegedly invaded her children’s rooms at a Sandton hotel two weeks ago where she is said to have attacked Engels and other women found in the company of the two teenagers.
Engels suffered some head injuries while her friends allegedly ran away when Mrs. Mugabe invaded the hotel room.
