Probe clears Springbok star of racism

South African World Cup winner Eben Etzebeth has been cleared in an internal investigation of racism and assault charges levelled against him last year, it was reported on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Springbok allegedly used racist slurs against four men in Langebaan, north of Cape Town.

He was also charged with assault after allegedly insulting, assaulting and pointing a gun at a 42-year-old homeless man.

But an internally commissioned probe led by a former judge concluded that there were no grounds to proceed with the case against the Springbok lock, Rapport newspaper said.

A SA Rugby spokesperson declined to give details of the probe citing employer-employee confidentiality.

“The independent investigation was conducted and the case is now closed from SA Rugby’s perspective,” said the spokesperson.

The complainants have filed a case against Etzebeth and want financial compensation of more than R1 million for damages.

They also want Etzebeth to undergo a restorative process which includes an apology, anger management training and community service in Langebaan.

The 82-Test lock has maintained his innocence.

His lawyer, Andre Calitz, told the newspaper the investigation outcome “is just further confirmation of his innocence. Eben was not at any stage guilty of slander or assault”.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has formally lodged an application against him in the Equality Court.

SAHRC’s chairperson Bongani Majola said its case against Etzebeth “is still on”.

“The clearance by SA Rugby has no impact on the two legal challenges ... which he still has to face and answer to,” said Majola.

Etzebeth is currently on the books of French Top 14 side Toulon, having arrived at the threetime European champions in December 2019 after featuring in the Springboks’ World Cup triumph in Japan. – AFP