Grace Mugabe immunity challenged

Gabriella Engels, the South African woman who was allegedly assaulted by Zimbabwe's First Lady Grace Mugabe, has taken the first step to challenge the South African government's decision to give her diplomatic immunity.

Ms Engels is being supported by pressure group AfriForum, which has tweeted the first page of the application to the high court in the capital, Pretoria:

#GraceMugabe #gracemugabe #GraceMugabeImmunity #GraceMugabeAssault @Willie_Spies @AletRademeyer @kalliekriel #GerrieNel pic.twitter.com/EHvGjbsQYl

— AfriForum (@afriforum) August 23, 2017

Ms Engels and AfriForum argue that Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane misinterpreted the law under which she can grant immunity, Times Live reports.

It adds that they believe the law excludes the granting of immunity to people who may have caused death or injury to a South African.

Ms Engels alleges that Mrs Mugabe hit her with a plug and electrical cord in a hotel room in Johannesburg when she was demanding to know where her sons were.

South African police said that Zimbabwe's first lady did not turn up at a police station as had been arranged and she then left the country with her husband on Sunday.

Mrs Mugabe has not commented on the case.