Former Zimbabwe first lady Grace Mugabe have been issued with a warrant of arrest by the South African prosecutors for allegedly assaulting a model in 2017.
The government was criticised for apparently letting the matter slide and letting Mrs Mugabe leave the country after the act.
Model Gabriella Engels accused Mrs Mugabe of beating her up with an electric extension cord in a hotel room in Johannesburg.
According to Mrs Mugabe she did it as a self defence said at the time that she had acted in self-defence after the model attacked her in the room where her two sons lived.
Police spokesman Vishnu Naidoo said on Wednesday that, “I can confirm that a warrant for the arrest of Grace Mugabe was issued last Thursday.”
It is unclear why the reporting of the warrant was delayed and there has been no response yet from Mrs Mugabe or Zimbabwean authorities.
Lobby group AfriForum, which has been pursuing the case, welcomed the arrest warrant.
“It seems that justice is going to take place and we are looking forward to this matter going forward,” South Africa’s Times Live website quoted AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel as saying.
It is unclear whether South Africa will push for Mrs Mugabe’s extradition.
The Mugabe family owns properties in South Africa.
The alleged assault took place about three months before the military takeover in Zimbabwe, which saw Robert Mugabe resign as president after 37 years in power.