Springboks release statement on Jantjies scandal

According to an article in Sunday newspaper Rapport, Elton Jantjies allegedly spent a ‘romantic’ night with the team dietician Zeenat Simjee at a bed and breakfast in the week leading up to the Test against the All Blacks in Nelspruit in August.

Unusually, Jantjies did not stay in the team hotel in the week of a match, and the report now suggests that he was with Simjee, who has also been released from the Bok squad.

Jantjies, 32, is married to Iva Ristic, the mother of his three children.

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The Springboks have released a statement in relation to the report, but suggested that ‘no team protocols had been breached’.

“The Springbok management are aware of reports regarding Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies and team dietician Zeenat Simjee between the training camp in Sabie and the Test match against New Zealand in Mbombela earlier this year.

“No team protocols were breached, but the individuals are returning to South Africa to attend to these personal reports and to eliminate any distractions to the team’s preparations for the Test against Argentina. No further comment will be made at this time.”

According to the report, Jantjies and Simjee were spotted by a father and son from Pretoria who were booked into the room next door.

“(My son) told me it wasn’t Elton’s wife because he knows what she looks like,” the father told Rapport. “We have lost the last ounce of respect for Elton.”

The Pretoria man apparently even recorded “sounds of pleasure” coming from the room in the afternoon. Reportedly, though, a heated argument then followed in the early hours of the following morning.

“It was terrible, terrible swearing and shouting,” said the Pretoria man. “I heard Elton plead at one stage: ‘Please, my baby. Please, my lovey’.”

The Springbok flyhalf is also said to have left the following morning without paying and only settled his bill weeks later.

This comes after Jantjies was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in May on charges of malicious damage to property

Jantjies was detained at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday 15 May 2022, while he was later released by police – on R1 000 bail – after a few hours in custody.

The World Cup-winning flyhalf later arrived at the Kempton Park magistrate’s court in relation to the incident that led to police detention, with a malicious damage to property case then postponed.

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As it is, there have been wildly contrasting reports on the in-flight incident, which led to his arrest.

The shocking news quickly spread like wildfire across the globe, with the natural question revolving around what could possibly have taken place on board the Emirates flight, with Jantjies said to have been returning to Johannesburg via Dubai after a family trip to Turkey.

The case was later said to be in line to be resolved through mediation, which may allow Jantjies to simply make a formal apology and/or possibly compensate for any damages.

According to News24, Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane initially said they received complaints that the Bok star had been swearing at passengers and crew members.

According to the latest information on the incident, though, it’s reported that on the instruction of the senior state prosecutor – and without reasons being publicly divulged – the case against Jantjies has been “provisionally withdrawn“.

His lawyer Nabeela Moola told AFP that charges had been provisionally withdrawn “based on the representations made to the state”. Prosecutors did not comment.

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In the hours after the news came to light, details were limited, but Jantjies’ agent James Adams confirmed that the Bok flyhalf was no longer in custody and was returning home.

“It’s alleged that while on board the plane, a light was damaged. We believe that the incident has been unnecessarily heightened,” Adams later commented in a more detailed statement. 

“Our client, however, remains compliant with the investigation process and will address this matter with the seriousness it beckons.” 

“We would like to allow the legal authorities to attend to this matter without any undue influence and ask that the public and press respect the legal process without casting judgement and also request that our client’s right to privacy be maintained.” 

However, the reference to a “light” simply being damaged stood in contrast to a shocking report by News24, which suggested that Jantjies had bloodied his knuckles on the plane’s bathroom door as a ‘terrified’ air hostess allegedly hid away.

The report suggests that Jantjies spent 10 minutes banging on the toilet door, while a fellow passenger alleges that Jantjies could be heard saying “Komaan, my skat (Come on, my darling)” to the air hostess who was hiding in the cubicle.