South Africa has granted Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity - security source

President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace attend a rally of his ruling ZANU (PF) in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe, July 29, 2017. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa has granted diplomatic immunity to Zimbabwe first lady Grace Mugabe, allowing her to return to Harare and avoid prosecution for the alleged assault of a 20-year-old model, a security source said on Friday.

The source also told Reuters that Mugabe, 52, had failed to appear in a Johannesburg magistrate's court on Tuesday under an agreement struck with police because of fears she might be attacked.

"There are a lot of exiled Zimbabweans in South Africa," the source said.

Gabriella Engels, who claims to have been assaulted by Grace Mugabe, arrives for a news conference in Pretoria, South Africa, August 17, 2017. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

(Reporting by Ed Cropley; Editing by Angus MacSwan)