JOHANNESBURG, August 19 (ANA) – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace should not be allowed to abuse diplomatic immunity to cover for her alleged disgraceful acts, the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) said on Saturday.
“As things stand, she is a fugitive from the law who must be held accountable for [the] alleged vicious attack that was committed on South African soil before she was granted diplomatic immunity,” Sanco national spokesman Jabu Mahlangu said.
“South Africa should not roll [out] the red carpet for her at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting first spouses programme,” he said.
South Africa could not be seen to be compromising its criminal justice system and legal system. “Equality before the law is a sacrosanct provision of our Constitution, [and] applies to everyone who find themselves within South Africa’s borders.”
The authorities should give Grace Mugabe an ultimatum to present herself before a South African court of law or alternatively approach Interpol for her arrest and extradition for her to stand trial in South Africa, Mahlangu said.
Grace Mugabe is accused of assaulting 20-year-old South African Gabriella Engels with an extension cord in a flat in Sandton, Johannesburg last Sunday. She has since asked for diplomatic immunity.
– African News Agency (ANA)
