Updated

South Africa's police say Zimbabwe's first lady Grace Mugabe has requested diplomatic immunity over an allegation that she assaulted a young model in Johannesburg earlier this week.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the South African police said that Mugabe is still in South Africa, following a day of intense speculation over her whereabouts after a 20-year-old model accused the wife of Zimbabwe's president of assault.

The police statement said the Zimbabwean government has asked for diplomatic immunity for a suspect involved in the assault. The police have declined to name Mugabe in the case as she has not yet appeared in court.

A spokesman for South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation told The Associated Press that the immunity request is under consideration.