South Africa mulls fate of Mugabe's wife after assault claim
Zimbabwe blocked flights by South Africa's government-owned airline on Saturday as tensions rose over allegations that Zimbabwe's first lady assaulted a young model at a luxury hotel in Johannesburg.
South Africa's government said it had not yet decided to grant the Zimbabwe government's request for diplomatic immunity for Grace Mugabe, who has not commented on the allegations.
Local media reported that Mugabe was expected to attend a regional summit with 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, in what would be her first public appearance since the alleged assault Sunday night. But there was no sign of her as of midday.
Twenty-year-old model Gabriella Engels has claimed that Grace Mugabe whipped her with an extension cord, cutting her forehead. Lawyers for Engels have threatened to go to court if immunity is granted.
