The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says it’s expected to have an outcome by the end of Monday regarding the Equality Court case involving South African rugby player Eben Etzebeth, who is accused of a racist assault in Langebaan.
The Springbok is accused of allegedly using a racial insult when leaving a pub in Langebaan on the West Coast, in the early hours of August 25, with a group of friends.
“One must understand that we are not the complainant, we are acting on the complainants’ behalf,” Commissioner Chris Nissen said.
“South Africans, however, will know the outcome by Monday.”
The incident allegedly also involved two men being pistol-whipped.
The SAHRC previously submitted papers for a hate speech case against Etzebeth in the Equality Court on behalf of the so-called Langebaan Four.
The four were looking for compensation of more than R1mn and wanted him to apologise, undergo anger management and racial sensitivity training, as well as community service.
The Springbok lock is part of Rugby World Cup squad in Japan.
Etzebeth, however, fought back by filing court papers in the Gauteng High Court accusing the Chapter 9 institution of being biased against him.
In his submission, he stated he was given the assurance at a meeting with the SAHRC on August 29 that the case would be investigated, he would be furnished with the particulars of the case against him, and he would be given the opportunity to respond on his return from the World Cup.
However, the Chapter 9 institution abandoned its inquiry and brought a case against the Springbok in the Equality Court instead, Die Burger reported.
