South Africa’s lock Eben Etzebeth looks on during the captain’s run training session at the Ecopa stadium in Shizuoka on October 3, 2019, during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)
South Africa’s lock Eben Etzebeth looks on during the captain’s run training session at the Ecopa stadium in Shizuoka on October 3, 2019, during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)
Just two days after Eben Etzebeth helped carry the Springboks to World Cup glory, the lock may soon be brought back down to earth in shattering fashion. The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) are expected to make a major announcement on the case “by the end of Monday”.
Despite featuring in South Africa’s spectacular campaign, Etzebeth has been dogged by controversy ever since he was accused of using a racial slur outside a pub in Langebaan, Western Cape. The athlete is also alleged to have assaulted someone in a heated argument, during the night in question.
On Sunday, SAHRC Commissioner Chris Nissen told South Africans there would be movement on the high-profile case within the next 24 hours. But what does that involve, and how will it affect Eben Etzebeth? We’ve got the essential knowledge you need right here.
Eben Etzebeth decision expected – what you need to know:
What have the SAHRC said?
Nissen was courted by EWN, and he made it clear that he feels Etzebeth won’t be able to dodge the charges coming his way in the Equality Court. At the very least, the Springboks star will have a case to answer to. Although the World Cup winner has applied for a dismissal, Nissen told the publication that he is of the opinion “that the commissioner has a strong case to oppose [Eben Etzebeth’s] application.”
He also stated that “South Africans will know the outcome by Monday.”
What will this decision mean for the case and Eben Etzebeth?
Despite the SAHRC’s cryptic clues, nothing is really set in stone at the moment. But it has been revealed that the group will go public with the legal opinion they have sought on this matter. Should they choose to reject Eztebeth’s application against the case, the hate speech charges would remain in place – and the Bok lock would likely be dragged to court on the matter.
Eben Eztebeth’s response
He’s been silent on the matter so far, and only addressed the accusations publicly once last month. He told the media that no alleged racist slurs were used, and that he didn’t raise a fist in anger as claimed by other revellers in Langebaan. Etzebeth has maintained he was trying to get himself and his friends away from the fracas.
The legal opinion will be presented to the commissioners of SAHRC later in the day. It’ll be a nervous wait for the accused and his legal team, and in a worst-case scenario, they could be sued for R1 million.
