The Democratic Alliance said it wanted Police Minister FikileMbalula to answer for what it said was Grace Mugabe's escape from the countryin the face of an assault charge.
Mbalula said on Tuesday that Mugabe had handed herself over topolice and was due to appear in court.
This related to the alleged assault of a young woman whom she apparently attacked with an extension cord after finding her in a hotel room with her sons.
DA MP, Zakhele Mbele, said that Mbalula had clearly missed something when he announced to the media that Mugabe was cooperating with authorities.
“After she had apparently committed to appear in court today for allegedly assaulting a young woman, reports have confirmed that Zimbabwean first lady, Grace Mugabe, is now back in Harare,” Mbhele said in a statement on Tuesday.
Mbhele said the DA would call for an inquiry into how Grace Mugabe was able to leave the country when she was clearly an identified suspect in a criminal charge. We especially need clarity on whether she had VIP protection assigned to her and if so, whether the SAPS therefore took her to her plane.
“Whether or not she committed to handing herself over, the SAPS should have done their job and arrested her, as they would any other ordinary person accused of the same crime. An arrest is meant to ensure the accused appears in court. Punishment is not the intention,” he said.
“This only leaves us with the startling possibility that Minister Mbalula may have aided and abetted Ms Mugabe's escape back to her mansion in Zimbabwe – a tactic to which the ANC government is no stranger as they have pulled this stunt before by letting ICC-indicted Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir escape our country,” Mbhele said.
He said it was grossly irresponsible for the SAPS not to arrest the Zimbabwean first lady who can easily access private air travel, thus posing a flight risk. SAPS should have reasonably known that she was never going to hang around to show up in court.
