In the spirited atmosphere of Cape Town’s Trophy Tour festivities today, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis presented Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi with a t-shirt with the text ‘wenkant’ printed on the chest – a cheeky nod to an incident involving allegations against Mbonambi last month.
During a tense match in Paris last month, which saw the South African team secure a narrow victory over England, flanker Tom Curry approached the referee, alleging that Mbonambi had made an offensive remark directed at him.
Curry accused Mbonambi of calling him a ‘white c***.’
The Independent reports that Curry’s allegation was heard by audiences worldwide as he questioned referee Ben O’Keeffe during the live broadcast. The official’s response, requesting Curry to ignore the comment and assuring him that he would be attentive to the situation, was captured, leaving viewers in anticipation of a resolution.
Also read: Thousands gather in Cape Town CBD to back the Bokke on victory tour
However, the supposed comment itself wasn’t picked up by the microphones, and no additional evidence of the claim surfaced during the broadcast. This led to an investigation by World Rugby, which concluded with no charges being pursued against Mbonambi.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city at half the price? Get exclusive offers here.
Their statement clarified that the incident would be laid to rest barring any new information emerging, clearing Mbonambi to play in the Rugby World Cup grand final.
Mayor Hill-Lewis’ lighthearted gift exchange not only showed support for Mbonambi but also exemplified the shared sentiment of moving beyond past controversies with a touch of humour.
View this post on Instagram
Explore Cape Town and surrounds with these incredible car deals, all priced under R100 000. Find car listings here.
Also read:
Siya Kolisi’s powerful message to President Ramaphosa and the country
Picture: @sarugbymag / Instagram