Springbok hooker accused of racial slur can be heard uttering ‘wit kant’
24 October 2023 - 16:48
bySINESIPHO SCHRIEBER
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Bongi Mbonambi during a Springbok training session at Stade des Fauvettes in Domont, Paris, ahead of the World Cup final. Picture: DAVID ROGERS/GETTY IMAGES
New video footage may shed light on what Springbok hooker Bongani Mbonambi said during the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup semifinal win over England on Saturday.
England flanker Tom Curry accused Mbonambi of uttering a racial slur towards him as the teams battled it out at Stade de France in Paris in a match the Boks won 16-15 to reach Saturday’s final against the All Blacks.
In audio clips on social media from referee Ben O’Keeffe’s microphone, Curry can be heard alleging Mbonambi called him a “white c**t”.
8 seconds in is the audio. Bongi is shouting ‘wit kant’. White side. I think this is the Springboks system call for when the opposition are switching the play. He identifies this early and alerts his defenders.
A short video clip has since been circulated on social media showing England putting pressure on the Boks’ defence in an attempt to go for a try, and Mbonambi can be faintly heard shouting in Afrikaans what appears to sound like “wyd kant” or “wit kant”, which means wide or white side. Given the ball came out of a ruck on England’s (the team in white) side, it would make sense for Mbonambi to shout at that moment “wit kant”.
Moments after this, Curry went to O’Keeffe to complain about Mbonambi.
“Sir, sir, if their hooker calls me a white c**t, what do I do?” he asked. O’Keeffe responded by saying: “Nothing please. I’ll be on it.”
The video clip is topping charts on social media as the Springboks await the verdict of World Rugby’s investigation into the matter.
Many South Africans believe the allegation against Mbonambi is a case of something he said in Afrikaans being lost in translation. The Boks speak in Afrikaans during games so the opponents cannot understand what they are saying.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
New footage could take pressure off Mbonambi
Springbok hooker accused of racial slur can be heard uttering ‘wit kant’
New video footage may shed light on what Springbok hooker Bongani Mbonambi said during the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup semifinal win over England on Saturday.
England flanker Tom Curry accused Mbonambi of uttering a racial slur towards him as the teams battled it out at Stade de France in Paris in a match the Boks won 16-15 to reach Saturday’s final against the All Blacks.
In audio clips on social media from referee Ben O’Keeffe’s microphone, Curry can be heard alleging Mbonambi called him a “white c**t”.
A short video clip has since been circulated on social media showing England putting pressure on the Boks’ defence in an attempt to go for a try, and Mbonambi can be faintly heard shouting in Afrikaans what appears to sound like “wyd kant” or “wit kant”, which means wide or white side. Given the ball came out of a ruck on England’s (the team in white) side, it would make sense for Mbonambi to shout at that moment “wit kant”.
Moments after this, Curry went to O’Keeffe to complain about Mbonambi.
“Sir, sir, if their hooker calls me a white c**t, what do I do?” he asked. O’Keeffe responded by saying: “Nothing please. I’ll be on it.”
The video clip is topping charts on social media as the Springboks await the verdict of World Rugby’s investigation into the matter.
Many South Africans believe the allegation against Mbonambi is a case of something he said in Afrikaans being lost in translation. The Boks speak in Afrikaans during games so the opponents cannot understand what they are saying.
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