Former Zimbabwean First Lady, Grace Mugabe is facing an arrest warrant in South Africa for allegedly assaulting a model, Gabriella Engels at a lavish hotel in 2018.

South African police issued the arrest warrant on Grace Mugabe on Wednesday for allegedly whipping Engels with an electrical cord and cutting her forehead at the plush hotel located in Johannesburg. 

The former First Lady was granted diplomatic immunity by the South African government after the reported assault but in July a court declared it as illegal, thus paving the way for the warrant. The court’s decision was in response to a suit filed by Engel’s lawyers at the advocacy group, AfriForum which challenged the decision and ultimately won the case.

“I can confirm that a warrant for the arrest of Grace Mugabe was issued last Thursday,” South African Police Service spokesman, Vishnu Naidoo said, adding that police were seeking Interpol’s help to enforce the warrant. 

The two people involved have wildly different versions of the incident. While Engels claims she was with two of Mugabe’s sons when Grace arrived and lashed out at her for no reason, the former First Lady maintains she acted in self-defense as Engels was intoxicated and had tried to attack her with a knife.

Grace Mugabe, who owns property in South Africa is now at risk of arrest if she tries to visit her sons who also live there.

The warrant could also prove to be another setback for Robert and Grace Mugabe who have tried to keep a low profile since he was ousted from power in a military coup in November 2017.

Grace Mugabe, who was dubbed ‘Gucci Grace’ by detractors and political opponents during the reign of her 97-year-old husband faced considerable criticism in parts of Zimbabwe for her lavish lifestyle and perceived political ambitions.