Nel: Family of alleged Grace Mugabe victim offered money
The family of a young Johannesburg woman who was allegedly assaulted by Grace Mugabe has been offered money to settle the case.
So says private prosecutor Gerrie Nel.
He addressed the media at a briefing in Centurion on Thursday.
It follows allegations that the Zimbabwean first lady lashed Gabriella Engels on the head with a cord at a Sandton hotel on Sunday night.
Nel says: "There are more concerning things and that is that the family has even been approached, via a third party, to accept an amount of money to settle this."
Mugabe is currently seeking diplomatic immunity.
Nel says there should not be selective prosecutions.
He says they are monitoring government's response to this matter.
#GraceMugabe Kriel says the family was asked to come up with a figure to make a settlement.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) August 17, 2017
While the 20-year-old woman was at the briefing, she did not address journalists.
AfriForum insists they do not want it to be a trial by media.
The woman's mother, Debbie Engels, says they can sleep easier knowing there is someone on their side.
The police ministry insists Mugabe is still in South Africa.