A woman claiming to have been attacked by Grace Mugabe has accused the criminal justice system of conspiring against her to let the Zimbabwean first lady get away with assaulting her.
Speaking to the Cape Times’ sister newspaper, The Star, yesterday, Gabriella Engels, 20, said, “I am quite upset that she was allowed to escape the country.
"The last thing the police told me was that she handed herself over and then I heard they don't know where she is.
“I am having doubts if I will get justice over this case. I am emotionally damaged because I am a model and I make money with my looks, how am I going to get a job with a scar on my face.”
The Johannesburg model claimed that she was assaulted by Mugabe for being in the company of her two sons at the weekend.
Engels alleged that the assault took place at the Capital 20 West Hotel in Sandton on Sunday.
Engels said she suffered gashes to her forehead and scalp.
Speculation around the whereabouts of Mugabe and whether she would be criminally charged heightened when she did not show up in court or hand herself over to the police.
Police spokesperson Vish Naidoo confirmed yesterday that Mugabe had not presented herself to the police despite an agreement to do so at 10am.
He was quick to dispel claims that the first lady was issued with a warrant of arrest after she failed to meet with police.
“There is no warrant of arrest that has been issued. Her attorney initiated contact with the police, saying she would be presenting herself at 10am, but right now we do not know where she is.
“At the moment police will continue with their investigations.”
The confusion began in the morning when Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula claimed that Mugabe had handed herself over to police, but was not under arrest.
In a widely circulated video clip, Mbalula said: “She is not under arrest because she co-operated and handed herself over to the police. That is co-operation.”
Gabriella’s mother, Debbie, said, “I’m disappointed because this woman has skipped the country. I have heard absolutely nothing from them.
“When I was at the police station earlier they said she would be handing herself over, but they have not said anything to me or my family.”
Debbie explained that her daughter was traumatised by the ordeal, as it is beginning to set in.
In a bid to get clarity on the matter, the Police Ministry was contacted, but spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga referred all queries to Naidoo, who again said there was no warrant of arrest issued.
Mugabe was expected to appear in the Randburg Magistrate's Court on charges of assault with intention to cause grievous bodily harm.
But a senior prosecutor said he had not received the case docket and her matter had not been put on the court roll.
Department of International Relations and Co-operation spokesperson Clayson Monyela said it was not clear if Mugabe had left the country.
“It's not necessarily an issue that we would know about and we therefore cannot comment on the matter.”
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said they had not received a docket for the matter and as such could not proceed.