Zimbabwe's first lady, Grace Mugabe, is due in court in South Africa following reports of an alleged assault, South Africa's police minister says.

Fikile Mbalula said: "She's not under arrest because she co-operated and handed herself over to the police."

She is alleged to have attacked a young woman at a Johannesburg area hotel.

The woman, 20, accused Mrs Mugabe, 52, of hitting her in the face and put images of a head wound on social media. Mrs Mugabe has not yet commented.

South African police confirmed that the 20-year-old had registered a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Mrs Mugabe allegedly attacked the woman with an extension cord after finding her with her two sons in a hotel room in Sandton, a plush suburb north of Johannesburg, reports the BBC Pumza Fihlani.

The attack is said to have happened on Sunday evening.

Who is Grace Mugabe?

 

• Began affair with Robert Mugabe, 41 years her senior, while working as a typist in state house
• Mr Mugabe later said his first wife Sally, who was terminally ill at the time, knew and approved of the relationship
• Married Mr Mugabe, her second husband, in 1996 in an extravagant ceremony. They have three children
• Nicknamed "Gucci Grace" by her critics who accuse her of lavish spending
• Along with her husband, is subject to EU and US sanctions, including travel bans
• Praised by supporters for her charitable work and founding of an orphanage
• Received a PhD in September 2014, a month after being nominated to take over the leadership of the Zanu-PF women's league

Mrs Mugabe is seen as a staunch defender of President Robert Mugabe, 93, and is the leader of the powerful women's league of Zimbabwe's governing Zanu-PF party.

 

Zimbabwe Information Minister Christopher Mushowe told the BBC that he was unaware of the allegation.

Mrs Mugabe was in South Africa to be treated for an ankle injury, sustained during a road accident last month, when the alleged assault took place, according to Zimbabwean media.

It is not clear whether she was travelling on a diplomatic or a normal passport.