Conduct of Jantjies is nothing new for Boks

THE conduct of Elton Jantjies in any place in the world was wrong and should in no manner be sugar-coated.

However, let me speak from what I have personally observed in Springbok players’ behaviour. As a former MP, I was from 2004 to 2007 regularly invited to the SA Rugby Union’s (Saru’s) president’s suite to watch international home games of the Springboks.

Being a guest of the Saru president also gave me entry to the post-game formal dinner that both teams attend.

It was standard practice for young women to accompany the Springbok players to the post-game dinner, and the mostly Afrikaner moms would actually bring their dressed-up daughters to these events. At some stadiums it was almost like a meat market judging by the manner in which these young women were paraded and proffered at Springbok post-game dinners. I observed on numerous occasions a number of known married Springbok players being inappropriately “friendly” with the young women.

Some of the Springboks whose conduct I observed during those years were known married men, and some of them are now highly regarded analysts and commentators for DSTV. For a Loftus game between the Springboks and Samoa, I passed my tickets on to a friend who took her beautiful daughter along. Fortunately, I warned them, because on the Monday my friend phoned to thank me and declare her disgust at the behaviour of one such commentator/analyst who was a senior Springbok then. Apparently, this married senior Springbok was quite forceful in his amorous intentions for my friend’s daughter after he had clearly consumed too much alcohol.

Saru team management was always present and the conduct I describe happened in full view and without reproach. Let me also add that not all Springboks behaved in this manner.

In the case of Elton, it would appear that the Saru management has suddenly and belatedly developed a set of selected morals. The way in which Elton’s conduct is presented is as if the Springbok team has always been a church choir.

The most pertinent feature of the polemic is that the Afrikaans press is making a meal out of the sordid affair. I am left wondering, should Siya Kolisi ever stray, how this same Afrikaans press and support base would rejoice at his inelegant departure?