South African Human Rights provincial commissioner Chris Nissen says they are not pushing for Eben Etzebeth to return prematurely from the World Cup in Japan.
On Friday, it was confirmed that Etzebeth is facing a compensation claim totalling more than R1 million from the incident that occurred in Langebaan on the West Coast.
READ: ‘Langebaan Four’ want R1m plus from Eben
Etzebeth, who played in Friday’s World Cup win over Italy, faces the main claim as well as an order that calls for community service in Langebaan, an apology to coloured people, anger management courses and race-sensitivity training.
ALSO READ: SA Rugby to address Etzebeth matter
Two men were alleged pistol-whipped with two more claiming they were racially abused by the Bok lock.
Buang Jones, who is representing the complainants in the Equality Court matter on behalf of the SA Human Rights Commission, says that hate speech papers have been filed. He confirmed the matter was in addition to the criminal matter currently being investigated.
Jones reportedly filed four applications on behalf of the two claimants at the Equality Court on Friday.
Etzebeth is now expected to be informed through his lawyers that a case has been filed, and will have 10 days to respond through an answering affidavit.
READ: ‘Boks, Etzebeth in good space’
‘If everything goes well we could meet with the magistrate for direction by mid-November and the case can even be heard by December,’ Jones said.
As the Equality Court case and police investigation run concurrently, Nissen stated that they would not be calling for Etzebeth to be recalled from the Bok World Cup squad.
‘The respondent is innocent until proven guilty. We have also said that we want the Springboks to bring the cup back home. We have never asked for the respondent to come back home. We wish that he plays well and hope that he will bring back the cup to South Africa.’
Photo: Steve Haag Sports via Hollywoodbets
