She is scheduled to appear in court later on Tuesday.
Grace Mugabe, wife of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe, turned herself in to South African police on Tuesday after allegedly assaulting a 20-year-old model in Sandton, South Africa over the weekend.
South Africa’s News24 reports that Mrs. Mugabe cooperated with the police and was therefore not arrested. She is scheduled to appear in court later on Tuesday.
The 52-year-old first lady was in South Africa to have her foot examined by doctors after injuring it at Harare International Airport.
The victim, Gabriella Engels, told News24 that she was visiting Mrs. Mugabe’s two sons, Robert and Chatunga, at the Capital 20 West Hotel in Sandton. A bodyguard directed her to wait in a separate room, and shortly thereafter, Mrs. Mugabe began beating her with an extension cord.
“When Grace entered I had no idea who she was. She walked in with an extension cord and just started beating me with it,” Ms. Engels told News24, adding that the first lady’s bodyguards simply stood by without intervening.
“There was blood everywhere. Over my arms, in my hair, everywhere,” she said.
The 20-year-old model informed the police of her assault, who advised her to first seek medical attention.
On Monday afternoon, Ms. Engels opened an assault case against Mrs. Mugabe.
Mr. Mugabe’s media staff declined to comment on the incident.
