Grace Mugabe Faces Arrest If She Enters South Africa: Legal Experts

According to Dr Llewellyn Curlewis, senior lecturer in criminal and procedural law at the University of Pretoria, told News24 that Zimbabwe’s former First Lady Grace Mugabe faces arrest if she enters South Africa.

Curlewis said summons can be issued for Mugabe to appear in court and if she refuses she could either be extradited or arrested as soon as she enters South Africa. This comes after the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, South Africa has overturned the decision to grant diplomatic immunity to former first lady Grace Mugabe. Said Curlewis:

This can be done by either the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) or, should the NPA for whatever reason decide not to prosecute, by the alleged victim (Engels) or her representative. Either way, a summons will be issued for Mugabe to appear in court to face charges. If she refuses, she could either be extradited or arrested as soon as she enters South Africa. There is no obligation on any country to extradite a citizen to another country, it’s a diplomatic and political issue. But she will be arrested should she come to South Africa, once she has been summonsed to appear in court and refused.

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