LATEST: Eben Etzebeth assault case dropped

More than two years after reports emerged of an incident involving Etzebeth in Langebaan, it’s been officially found that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute the Springbok star.

Just before travelling to the World Cup in Japan in 2019, Etzebeth and his cousin, Emile, were implicated in an alleged assault involving a couple of locals outside a night club in Langebaan.

However, it’s now been confirmed that the case will not be investigated.

“The Acting Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Nicolette Bell, has declined to prosecute Emile and Eben Etzebeth on counts of assault, stating there were ‘no prospects of a successful prosecution against the two men’,” IOL reported.

Western Cape spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, Eric Ntabazalila, said: “In evaluating the representations, the prosecution consulted the two independent witnesses, upon whom reliance was placed to institute the prosecution.

“The evaluation revealed that one of the independent witnesses could not identify the assailant who assaulted the two complainants, whilst the initial identification made by the second witness could not, following the consultation, be relied upon to sustain a prosecution.”

Having considered all evidence at hand, Bell concluded that “there are no prospects of a successful prosecution. I therefore decline to prosecute Emile Etzebeth and Eben Etzebeth”.

In 2020, SA Rugby’s investigation into the matter also cleared the Bok lock of any wrongdoing, which followed on from the initial investigations that found no evidence of wrongdoing, allowing Etzebeth to remain part of the World Cup squad that would go on to lift the Webb Ellis trophy.

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