News / Africa
Grace Mugabe's sons were not using drugs - AfriForum
18 Aug 2017 at 03:20hrs | Views
JOHANNESBURG - Lobby group AfriForum has refuted speculation that
alleged assault victim Gabriella Engels and Grace Mugabe's sons were
using drugs the day she was beaten.
The Zimbabwean first lady allegedly assaulted Engels, aged 20, in a Sandton hotel on Sunday when she found her with her two sons.
The Zimbabwean government has since requested diplomatic immunity for her.
Engels, accompanied by her mother Debbie and AfriForum in Centurion, has made her first public appearance with bandages to her face and head.
AfriForum's Kallie Kriel says it was the first time that Engels had met the Mugabe sons.
"Through my discussions she had just met them. This is the kind of thing I think we should fight. It falls in the same category as when people say a woman was raped because of the clothes she wore."
Debbie Engels says she is confident AfriForum will obtain justice for her daughter.
"At least I can sleep more peacefully knowing I have people in my corner to help me fight for justice for my daughter. I know these people are not going to back down."
Kriel says the Mugabe family has offered Engels a blank cheque to make the case disappear.
AfriForum says it's confident that it can successfully prosecute Mugabe for assault.
The first lady has failed to hand herself over to police, as agreed earlier this week, and is now claiming diplomatic immunity.
Advocate Gerrie Nel, nicknamed the Bulldog, has vowed to ensure that the first lady is prosecuted.
"We'll do what is needed to ensure that justice is done."
"I think they shouldn't immediately lose confidence in the South African police and NPA. There's a process. They might even deal with this matter. If that happens, we'll be in a supporting role."
AfriForum says it will step in if the NPA fails to take action against Mugabe in the next three months.
The Zimbabwean first lady allegedly assaulted Engels, aged 20, in a Sandton hotel on Sunday when she found her with her two sons.
The Zimbabwean government has since requested diplomatic immunity for her.
Engels, accompanied by her mother Debbie and AfriForum in Centurion, has made her first public appearance with bandages to her face and head.
AfriForum's Kallie Kriel says it was the first time that Engels had met the Mugabe sons.
"Through my discussions she had just met them. This is the kind of thing I think we should fight. It falls in the same category as when people say a woman was raped because of the clothes she wore."
Debbie Engels says she is confident AfriForum will obtain justice for her daughter.
"At least I can sleep more peacefully knowing I have people in my corner to help me fight for justice for my daughter. I know these people are not going to back down."
Kriel says the Mugabe family has offered Engels a blank cheque to make the case disappear.
AfriForum says it's confident that it can successfully prosecute Mugabe for assault.
The first lady has failed to hand herself over to police, as agreed earlier this week, and is now claiming diplomatic immunity.
Advocate Gerrie Nel, nicknamed the Bulldog, has vowed to ensure that the first lady is prosecuted.
"We'll do what is needed to ensure that justice is done."
Nel says that despite the delays so far, the State must be given a chance.#GraceMugabe AfriForum's Gerrie Nel will represent Gabriella Engels if prosecutions on the First Lady aren't handled correctly. HM pic.twitter.com/Gqhlu27LDZ
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) August 17, 2017
"I think they shouldn't immediately lose confidence in the South African police and NPA. There's a process. They might even deal with this matter. If that happens, we'll be in a supporting role."
AfriForum says it will step in if the NPA fails to take action against Mugabe in the next three months.
Source - EWN
