Dietician for the Springboks Zeenat Simjee denies having an affair with rugby player Elton Jantjies.
A allegation stating that Simjee and Jantjies were involved in an adulterous affair prompted the Springboks to send Simjee and Jantjies home from their camp in Argentina ahead of the Rugby Championship match between the two teams.
According to Rapport, the two slept at a B&B in Mbombela before the Test match against the All Blacks and were spotted engaged in an affair by members of the public.
SA Rugby stated that, despite the fact that no team procedures were broken, the two players were sent home so as not to put pressure on the Springboks as they prepare for their must-win match against Los Pumas.
In a statement posted on Friday, Simjee pleaded with Rapport, the news outlet that broke the story over the weekend, to “retract and apologize” for the derogatory opinions expressed about her.
View the complete statement below:
In the past week, I have been the target of several exceedingly bad media reports, which have tarnished my reputation and diminished my dignity.
I appreciate the support of my fellow Springbok management team members, who agreed with my decision to return home to work through this situation with the assistance of my family and pertinent professionals.
I choose to keep a respectful silence during the media tempest because I am profoundly traumatized by what has transpired.
Let me express absolutely that I am astonished by the amount of sensationalism in the article’s original newspaper publication. I am devastated that a journalist and his publication could publish such harmful charges based on incorrect and unfounded hearsay. It is disappointing.
As a young professional, I have a high appreciation for my profession. Similarly, it is an honor and a privilege to represent my country and play for the Springboks. As a person of integrity, I will not bring disgrace upon myself, my family, my profession, and the countless great individuals who have been kind, encouraging, and supportive throughout this process.
I had spent the weekend preceding exam week in Mbombela with my parents dealing with a family death. Therefore, the allegations that I spent time with Elton Jantjies in a guesthouse are false.
This has shed a very poor and humiliating light on my character, to which other media outlets have contributed their own perspectives. I request that the original publisher retract and apologize for the poor characterization of my character.
I am devoted to the Springbok Team and would like to resolve this matter as quickly as possible so I can continue to fulfill my professional obligations to the Springbok team.