[imagesource: Bernadette Wicks / EWN]

Looks like the Springboks still have their backup flyhalf available for selection.

Elton Jantjies was named in Jacques Nienaber’s squad for South Africa’s three-Test series against Wales starting next month, and as of Friday the criminal case against him has been provisionally withdrawn.

You may recall that Jantjies was arrested for “malicious damage to property”, as well as the contravention of the Aviation Act, after he touched down in Johannesburg on an Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai last month.

Eyewitnesses said the Springbok was banging on a toilet cubicle door for 10 minutes, saying “Komaan, my skat” (come on, my darling) while an air hostess hid inside.

Charges were withdrawn at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court, reports IOL:

…the star reached an agreement to pay for the damages he caused on an Emirates aeroplane.

The NPA said it was withdrawing the case provisionally, pending the confirmation of payment for damages caused to the plane…

NPA regional spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said: “The case was set down for the outcome of representations he lodged with the senior public prosecutor of Kempton Park and, after careful consideration, the prosecution decided to provisionally withdraw his prosecution, pending confirmation of payment for damages caused to the plane, as per undertaking from Jantjies.”

If Jantjies changes his home address, he will need to inform the investigating officer.

Does anybody else think it’s strange that, in the age of ever-present smartphones, no footage of the incident has gone public?

His lawyer,  Nabeela Moola, declined to give a lengthy statement, although she did say it’s “not fair to say that it will be swept under the rug, [because] you have seen he has been compliant with the State throughout this process”.

We know of at least one woman who will be happy that charges have been dropped.

Mjonondwane added that the prosecution “will continue to engage with the complainant, Emirates Airline, to ensure that the accused delivers on his undertaking”.

[source:iol]