Human Rights Commission take Etzebeth to Equality Court

The South African Human Rights Commission have announced their intent to bring charges against Springbok player Eben Etzebeth.

The commission received a complaint from a Langebaan resident in August alleging that Etzebeth physically and racially abused him just before the Springboks World Cup squad was announced.

Etzebeth to answer charges in Equality Court

“The South African Human Rights Commission will institute legal proceedings against Mr. Eben Etzebeth in the Equality Court on Friday, 04 October 2019. 

“This follows a complaint received by the Commission in August 2019, in terms of which it is alleged that the Springbok player, physically and racially abused the Complainant in Langebaan during an altercation.

“The Commission will also hold a public meeting in Langebaan on Thursday, 03 October 2019, to report back on progress made in dealing with this complaint.”

A video taken shortly after the alleged incident did the rounds on social media but offered little in the way of evidence.

The South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority had not charged Etzebeth in the wake of an incident in Langebaan that allegedly left a man hospitalized.

SAHRC spokesperson Buang Jones said that the community of Langebaan had expressed their anger over the handling of the incident.

“The Commission will also hold a mass public meeting in Langebaan on Thursday and will report back on progress made in dealing with the complaint against Etzebeth,” Jones said.

“We [SAHRC] are going to address them, and they will raise all their concerns about racism in the area.”

Etzebeth’s strong denials of Human Rights Commission charges

The Springbok lock, who is in Japan with the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad, has firmly denied the charges,

“It is completely untrue and unfounded to claim that I physically or racially abused anyone in Langebaan as has been reported on social media. Multiple witnesses can corroborate that.

I am and will always strive to be a true ambassador to this beautiful rainbow nation and the sport that I love,” Etzebeth posted on Facebook on 25 August.

At the time of writing, SA Rugby and Springbok team management were yet to issue a response to the news that Etzebeth was to be charged.

Etzebeth was named in the Springboks starting XV for Friday’s Rugby World Cup clash with Italy in Shizuoka earlier this week.

SA Rugby had said ahead of the tournament that if Etzebeth was charged he would be removed from the World Cup Squad but it unclear if the Springboks would be cleared to replace him if he had to be axed.

Japan’s Amanaki Mafi was cleared to play at the 2019 Rugby World Cup despite facing a 2020 court day for an alleged assault in Australia.