Elton Jantjies RESPONDS to latest embarrassment with cryptic message

Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies once again made headlines over the weekend – and unfortunately once again for all the wrong reasons.

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Jantjies was reportedly seen entertaining the Springboks’ dietician Zeenat Simjee at two different guest houses in Mbombela during the week leading up to the Springboks’ first Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks in Mbombela at the beginning of August.

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Afrikaans Sunday publication Rapport reported that Jantjies, 32, did not stay in the same hotel as the rest of his team-mates and the Springbok management, but instead made alternative accommodation reservations.

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It’s not the first time Jantjies has made headlines in recent months.

He was arrested in May on charges of malicious damage to property of an airline he had flown with from Dubai to Johannesburg.

However, as reported by The South African website, a month later his lawyer confirmed that the charges had been dropped.

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A father from Pretoria, who stayed at one of the guest houses with his 12-year-old son, told the publication that when his son spotted the pair he told him that the woman with Jantjies is not his wife as he recognised both of them and wanted to ask them for their autographs.

Elton Jantjies is married to long-time partner Iva Ristic with whom he shares three children.

The relationship status of Simjee, 30, is unknown.

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A post shared by Elton Jantjies (@eltonjantjies)

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Rapport added that several sources told them how Jantjies and his companion’s passionate moments had guests feeling uncomfortable and how their screaming matches went on until the early hours of the morning.

Elton Jantjies reportedly left the guest house without settling his account of R4 000, before checking in to another guest house where he ran up a bill of R26 000 – of which he reportedly only paid R5 000.

SA Rugby issued a statement regarding Elton Jantjies

The money was reportedly spent on expensive champagne, flowers, spa treatments and candlelit dinners.

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Following reports of the scandalous affair, SA Rugby issued a brief statement on Sunday confirming that they are aware of reports – a month later – regarding Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies and Zeenat Simjee “between the training camp in Sabie and the Test match against New Zealand in Mbombela earlier this year”.

The statement claimed that “no team protocols were breached, but the individuals are returning to South Africa to attend to these personal reports and to eliminate any distractions to the team’s preparations for the Test against Argentina.”

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Jantjies has responded to the fallout that has ensued since his relationship with Simjee was made public.

Jantjies posted a cryptic message on his Instagram page that was accompanied by a photo of Robert De Niro in his depiction as Vito Corleone in the Godfather series.

The message read: “I prefer to distance myself whenever I’m mad, to calm my mind, otherwise I become the most heartless person you’ll ever meet.”

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The Springboks are in currently in Argentina preparing to face the Pumas in their penultimate Rugby Championship match.

The two sides will lock horns once again at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday, 24 September.

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