Cyril Ramaphosa booed in parliament for defending decision to grant Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity

South Africa’s Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa was booed by MPs after he defended the ANC government’s decision to grant Zimbabwe’s first lady Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity.

Ramaphosa was responding to Inkatha Freedom Party MP Liesl van der Merwe’s question on what the decision to grant Grace immunity will mean for gender violence and gender relations in the country. Said Ramaphosa:

These regulations and conventions are understood and well recognised at a United Nations level, and that was utilised for this purpose. So clearly, it has its own sub-regulation in terms of its own efficacy. It’s the first time we have utilised this type of convention. A lot can be said pro and against it. In the end, the clarity that we need on this matter is not full and complete. Yes, in certain environments it is applied, in others, it’s not applied.

Grace Mugabe was accused of beating 20-year old South African model, Gabriella Engels with an extension, on August 13 at a Johannesburg hotel where her two sons were staying.

More: Mail & Guardian