Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe in South Africa as wife faces assault charge

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe was in South Africa on Thursday as his wife faced accusations of assaulting a 20-year-oldmodel, and police said a "red alert" had been issued to prevent Grace Mugabefrom leaving the country.

Mugabe flew into Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria with his entourage late Wednesday night, apparently to help his wife with the scandal. He arrived early for a regional summit of southern African nations.

The African News Agency reported that South Africa's Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula said all borders have been notified not to permit Grace Mugabe from leaving the country until the matter is resolved.

South African authorities are debating whether to grant Mugabe, 52, diplomatic immunity, which Zimbabwe's government has requested.

The model, Gabriella Engels, has been offered legal assistance by a prominent lawyer who secured the murder conviction of Oscar Pistorius.

Engels has accused Mugabe of barging into a hotel where Engels was meeting with her sons, and whipping her with an electric cord.

Refused cash payment

Gerrie Nel, a former state prosecutor who now works as a private prosecutor for AfriForum, an organization that primarily represents the rights of South Africa's white Afrikaner minority, said he will offer help to Engels.

Nel told reporters there was the "possibility of political interference" in the case. He said diplomatic immunity can't be used to "escape prosecution from grave crimes."

Nel said the Engels family had been approached by a third party to accept a cash settlement "for this to go away," but said, "the family is not interested in doing that."

South African police told local media they awaited instructions from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation on how to proceed. A department spokesman declined to comment on the status of Mugabe's immunity bid on Thursday, but said Wednesday the matter was under consideration.

• CBC INTERACTIVE l Life in Zim

It is unclear whether Grace Mugabe entered South Africa in a personal or an official capacity, which could impact her immunity appeal. Zimbabwe's state-owned Herald newspaper reported last weekend that she was in South Africa seeking medical care for an injured foot.

The debate over whether Mugabe should be granted immunity quickly took on a political dimension in South Africa, with the opposition Democratic Alliance calling on the President Jacob Zuma's cabinet to ensure Mugabe is brought to justice.

"Ms. Mugabe should have applied for diplomatic immunity before she came to our country, not after she finds herself facing criminal charges," the DA's Zakhele Mbhele said in a statement.

The police minister "needs to do his job and ensure she is arrested and has her day in court to answer the serious charges against her."