A lawyer who prosecuted Blade Runner killer Oscar Pistorius said he was ready to represent a model who has accused Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe of whipping her with an electrical cord.
Gerrie Nel said he was willing to represent Gabriella Engels, 20, who has already turned down a cash offer from a third party to drop the charges and ‘for this to go away’.
He said: ‘The family is not interested in doing that.’
Model Gabriella Engels, pictured, has accused Grace Mugabe of assaulting her with a cable
The 20-year-old model, pictured, has reportedly been offered cash to drop the claims
Gerrie Nel, the former prosecutor who led the case against Oscar Pistorious said he would be willing to represent Ms Engels in her case against the first lady of Zimbabwe
The high profile lawyer quit the state’s prosecutor’s office in January and began working for a civic group that hopes to bring private prosecutions in criminal cases where the state opts not to.
South African authorities have issued an alert to ports, airports and border crossings to stop Mrs Mugabe from leaving the country.
Police are said to be ‘on red alert’.
Mugabe flew into Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria with his entourage late Wednesday night, apparently to help his wife with the scandal. He arrived early for a regional summit of southern African nations.
The African News Agency reported that South Africa’s Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula said all borders have been notified not to permit Grace Mugabe from leaving the country until the matter is resolved.
South African police are on red alert to prevent Mugabe, 52, pictured from leaving the country
Pistorius is currently serving six years in prison for murdering Reeva Steenkamp
South African authorities are debating whether to grant Mugabe, 52, diplomatic immunity, which Zimbabwe’s government has requested.
The model who accuses Zimbabwe’s first lady of assault, 20-year-old Gabriella Engels, has been offered legal assistance by a prominent lawyer who secured the murder conviction of Oscar Pistorius.
Nel told reporters that there was the ‘possibility of political interference’ in the case. He said diplomatic immunity can’t be sued to ‘escape prosecution from grave crimes’.
Zimbabwean officials want South Africa to grant Mugabe diplomatic immunity so she can avoid prosecution and leave the country, a move which has been condemned by Mr Nel
Dictator Robert Mugabe, left, pictured with his wife, right, is also in South Africa in response to the assault allegations. He arrived in Pretoria at a military airport on Wednesday night
South African police told local media they awaited instructions from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation on how to proceed. A department spokesman declined to comment on the status of Mugabe’s immunity bid on Thursday, but on Wednesday said the matter was under consideration.
It is unclear whether Grace Mugabe entered South Africa in a personal or an official capacity, which could impact her immunity appeal. Zimbabwe’s state-owned Herald newspaper reported last weekend that she was in South Africa seeking medical care.
The debate over whether Mugabe should be granted immunity quickly took on a political dimension in South Africa, with the opposition Democratic Alliance calling on the President Jacob Zuma’s cabinet to ensure Mugabe is brought to justice.
DA spokeperson Zakhele Mbhele said: ‘Ms. Mugabe should have applied for diplomatic immunity before she came to our country, not after she finds herself facing criminal charges.’
Mbhele added ‘needs to do his job and ensure she is arrested and has her day in court to answer the serious charges against her.’