Mbalula must answer for Grace Mugabe's escape
After she had apparently committed to appear in court today for allegedly assaulting a young woman, reports have confirmed that Zimbabwean first lady, Grace Mugabe, is now back in Harare.
Police Minister Fikile Mbalula however had earlier confirmed that Ms Mugabe had handed herself over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and was to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s court at 13h00 today.
Mbalula clearly missed something as he is quoted as saying that she was ‘not under arrest, because she cooperated and handed herself over to the police. That is cooperation, more than any necessity to go and arrest a person.’
The DA will call for an inquiry into how Grace Mugabe was able to leave the country when she was clearly an identified suspect in a criminal charge. We especially need clarity on whether she had VIP protection assigned to her and if so, whether the SAPS therefore took her to her plane.
Whether or not she committed to handing herself over, the SAPS should have done their job and arrested her, as they would any other ordinary person accused of the same crime. An arrest is meant to ensure the accused appears in court. Punishment is not the intention.