Photos-First lady Grace Mugabe denies assaulting SA model, says she attacked her with a knife

Zimbabwe’s first lady, Grace Mugabe has denied assaulting a South African model, who brought charges of assault against her.

Recall that last month, 20-year-old Gabriella Engels claimed she was assaulted by Grace, the wife of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe at a hotel in Sandton‚ Johannesburg after she caught her with her two sons in the hotel.

Now, the first lady has given her own version of what went down at the hotel.

According to Reuters, Mugabe denied the report brought forward by Engels that she was hit with a cord. Engels sustained injuries to her forehead and was left traumatised by the incident.

In Mugabe’s statement, she alleges Engels was involved in a fight at Taboo nightclub in Sandton with other women and that is what caused her injuries.

“She was worried about [her sons] and went to see them at their hotel suite. Upon her arrival, Ms. Engels, who was intoxicated and unhinged, attacked Dr. Grace Mugabe with a knife after she was asked to leave.

“Security was left with no other option but to remove Ms. Engels from the hotel suite,” the statement read.

Mugabe flew out of SA a few days after the alleged assault and was granted diplomatic immunity by the South African government.

AfriForum, a South African civil-rights organisation that is representing Engels slammed the statement issued by Mugabe.

“It is clear that Grace Mugabe is desperately trying to escape responsibility for her own violent behaviour by using lies to falsely portray the victim in this case as the perpetrator,” AfriForum told Reuters.