Elton Jantjies cleared to fly for Boks over flight incident

South African prosecutors have withdrawn their case against Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies following an incident on a plane last month.

Jantjies had been arrested at Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg for an incident on flight from Dubai to Jo'burg in which it was alleged that he had damaged property of the airline that was transporting him.

On Friday, the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court heard that the case was being withdrawn on the orders of the senior state prosecutor, with no justification given publicly.

Jantjies lawyer Nabeela Moola told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that charges had been provisionally withdrawn “based on the representations made to the state.”

He is now free to play for the Springboks this Test season unhindered. The playmaker was listed in Jacques Nienaber wider Springboks squad earlier this month and is expected to feature for the the World Champions against Wales in some capacity.

Jantjies, capped 44 times by the Boks, was a member of the victorious Bok squads at the 2019 World Cup and against the 2021 British and Irish Lions.

He also attended the Springbok alignment camp in Durban in April. Jantjies made his debut against Australia at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, in 2012 and featured as a replacement against England at Twickenham, London, in November last year.