CAPE TOWN, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The South African government will not appeal a court ruling which sets aside the decision to grant diplomatic immunity to former Zimbabwean first lady over an assault case, a cabinet minister said on Thursday.
"We have studied the judgment and came to the conclusion that we will not appeal," Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu said, without giving further details.
She was speaking on the occasion of her monthly media briefing in Pretoria on diplomatic developments.
The Johannesburg High Court ruled last week that the decision by former International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to grant Grace Mugabe, wife of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, diplomatic immunity was inconsistency with the Constitution and should be set aside.
Mashabane made the decision on Aug. 19, 2017 after Grace allegedly assaulted model Gabriella Engels and two other women in Johannesburg.
Engels, who reportedly sustained severe facial injuries as a result of the alleged assault, laid a criminal charge of assault against Grace with intent to cause serious bodily harm.
It is believed that Grace assaulted the women after she had found them in the company of her young sons who were university students.
Grace left South Africa for Zimbabwe after she was granted diplomatic immunity.
The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) sued the government for granting diplomatic immunity to Grace.
Mashabane explained in court that Grace automatically qualified for immunity from prosecution by virtue of her status as the wife of a head of state.
Mashabane also argued that not awarding Grace diplomatic immunity might have serious implications for relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
