South Africa's top rugby star faces legal action over brawl

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Wednesday confirmed that it will institute legal proceedings against top rugby star Eben Etzebeth in the Equality Court on Friday.

The towering Springbok forward is representing his country at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan where he is expected to play against Italy on Friday.

As previously reported by PANA, Etzebeth has been accused of hurling racial slurs at a man following a bar brawl in the resort town of Langebaan, near Cape Town in August. Witnesses said he used the word "hotnot", a derogatory term referring to mixed race people.

HRC commissioner Chris Nissen said community leader Sammy Claassen laid the complaint with the commission. 

-0- PANA CU/AR 2Oct2019