Eben Etzebeth FF Plus

South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth during the training session at Twickenham Stadium, London.

Eben Etzebeth: ANC slammed for “trying to exploit” racism case

The ANC have clashed with other politicians, regarding their stance on Eben Etzebeth. The SA rugby star has been blighted by allegations of racism.

Eben Etzebeth FF Plus

South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth during the training session at Twickenham Stadium, London.

How do you solve a problem like Eben Etzebeth? The Springboks squad member has become the unwanted focus of attention for the team as they compete at the Rugby World Cup in Japan. Now, political parties – including the ANC and the FF Plus – are laying into each other for the way they’ve handed the claims made against him.

Earlier this week, the ANC in the Western Cape urged SA Rugby to send Etzebeth home from the tournament to answer mounting allegations of racism and thuggery. The Bok lock has until 14 October to file answering affidavits after the SAHRC filed a hate speech case against him in the Equality Court, sitting in Hopefield.

FF Plus hit back in Eben Etzebeth debate

Eben Etzebeth was initially cleared to take part in the Rugby World Cup after discussions between himself and the South African Human Rights Commission. The SAHRC made a u-turn on an agreement made with Etzebeth after they received additional accounts of the events of 24 August 2019 in Langebaan.

The situation has caused a huge ripple effect on the political landscape in Mzansi: The FF Plus are now riled over remarks made Sammy Claassen, a Langebaan community leader who is believed to support the ANC.

ANC vs FF Plus

Claassen is has been quoted as saying the FF Plus “have turned their backs on the Coloured community”, and suggested that the fifth most-popular party in the country were advocates of racism. That drew an acidic response from their leader Pieter Groenewald, who slammed the ANC for making Eben Etzebeth their “political playball”.

“Claassen’s statements are disconcerting and raises the following question: to what extent was the ANC involved in making the matter a political playball? It is unacceptable and dangerous for a political party to manipulate such situations for political gain.”

“The FF Plus was right to criticise the HRC’s statement yesterday, saying that it is going to investigate the actions of its national legal head, Buang Jones, concerning the case. Our standpoint on racism is well documented. We strongly condemn the fact that the Eben Etzebeth case is being used for cheap political gain.”

FF Plus statement

Springboks next match at the Rugby World Cup

The FF plus continued to lament Claassen’s comments, suggesting that they had the potential to cause great damage to human relations in the country. Eben Etzebeth remains with the Springboks, as they await confirmation of who they will face in the knock-out stages. A win against either Ireland, Scotland or Japan would send South Africa through to the semi-finals. It remains to be seen what part Etzebeth has left to play.