South African police investigate Grace Mugabe assault reports

Reuters
President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace attend a rally of his ruling ZANU (PF) in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe, July 29, 2017. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's police minister ordered an investigation on Tuesday into reports that Zimbabwe first lady Grace Mugabe had assaulted a woman in Johannesburg's up-market Sandton district over the weekend. South African media said 52-year-old Grace, a possible successor to her 93-year-old husband Robert, attacked the woman and injured in the head at a hotel in the upscale district of Sandton on Sunday night. Local media said Grace was in South Africa to have her foot examined after suffering an injury in Harare. South African police minister Fikile Mbalula told reporters that he expected to get a report from investigators on Tuesday. It was unclear whether she was travelling on a diplomatic or normal passport. "Arresting a person of her status, she can be arrested, but if she came here with a diplomatic passport she can have diplomatic immunity. But it does not mean that she cannot be arrested," Mbalula said. Neither Grace Mugabe, Zimbabwe information minister Christopher Mushohwe or Mugabe spokesman George Charamba were available to comment. (Writing by James Macharia)