South African police have said Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe remains in the country and has applied for diplomatic immunity after being accused of assaulting a 20-year-old model in an upmarket Johannesburg hotel.
They also confirmed that Ms Mugabe, the 52-year-old wife of veteran Zimbabwean leader Robert, had failed to appear at a court hearing yesterday relating to the allegations that she attacked Gabriella Engels with an electric extension cord.
Hinting at a potentially serious diplomatic rift between the southern African neighbours, the police statement said Zimbabwe had asked that Ms Mugabe be granted diplomatic immunity but made clear she would be "processed through the legal system".
Ms Mugabe, a potential successor to her 93-year-old husband, was in South Africa to receive treatment to an injured foot.
A Zimbabwean intelligence source told Reuters she was not travelling on a diplomatic passport.
Amid confusion over the case and investigation, the police statement said yesterday’s abortive court hearing was meant to obtain a statement from Ms Mugabe, along with her version of the events.
However, Ms Mugabe failed to appear as agreed.
"By end of business yesterday, she had failed to present herself as arranged," the statement said.
There has been no official comment from Zimbabwe, and Reuters has been unable to identify Ms Mugabe's lawyers in Johannesburg.
South African police spokesman Vish Naidoo did not comment on the specifics of the case, other than to say it related to assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Ms Engels' mother Debbie told Reuters that her daughter had received 14 stitches, eight on her forehead and six on the back of her head.
