Call for rights body and SA Rugby to probe racism claim against Bok

Everyone has an opinion on the matter, but it’s time for the right bodies to find the facts of the matter and act accordingly.

Beauty Dlulane

Chairperson of the portfolio committee on sports, art and culture

Parliament’s portfolio committee on sports, art and culture says the matter involving Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth is “sensitive” and could have been handled differently.

Etzebeth is accused of racially abusing a fellow patron at a pub in Langebaan in August.

The South African Human Rights Commission said this week it would “institute legal proceedings” against him in the Equality Court today.

The police are investigating a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, crimen injuria and pointing a firearm.

SA Rugby, meanwhile, has launched an internal investigation into the allegations.

“The matter could have been handled differently and SA Rugby and the Human Rights Commission should improve on dealing with matters of this nature,” committee chairperson Beauty Dlulane said yesterday.

“The approach in handling these matters should be corrective and not what appears to be a media embarrassment of Mr Etzebeth and distraction of South Africa’s participation at the World Cup.”

Etzebeth is in Japan, where the Springboks are playing in the Rugby World Cup. He has denied the allegations, insisting “multiple witnesses can corroborate that”.

SA Rugby was cooperating with the authorities, but had not considered sending Etzebeth home.

“They have not asked us to bring him back and he has not even been formally charged,” SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said.

Dlulane said if there were grounds for prosecution, that should be decided by competent bodies after a rigorous process to establish what happened.

The National Prosecuting Authority has apparently referred the docket back to the investigating officer for further investigation.

“Running commentary in the media, especially given the seriousness of what Mr Etzebeth is alleged to have done, will not solve anything,” Dlulane said.

“Everyone has an opinion on the matter, but it’s time for the right bodies to find the facts of the matter and act accordingly.”

She said the committee was concerned about the amount of time that had passed since the alleged incident.

The committee wished the Springboks well in their clash against Italy today. –