Tom Curry and Bongi Mbonambi incident has become a running joke in SA

Allegations made during the final week of the Rugby World Cup against Springboks Bongi Mbonambi have become something of a running joke back in South Africa.

Curry claimed to referee Ben O’Keeffe in the first half of the Springboks versus England World Cup semi-final on October 21st that he had been called a “white c***” by Mbonambi.

The Rugby Football Union subsequently disclosed to the inquiry that Curry “had also been the victim of the same abuse, from the same player” when the rivals clashed at Twickenham in November 2022.

CJ Stander talks about South African teams’ travel blues in the URC

CJ Stander talks about South African teams’ travel blues in the URC

World Rugby did not take charges further against the hooker due to a lack of evidence and he went on to play in the Rugby World Cup final.

One of the main explanations for what Mbonambi might have said was that he was speaking Afrikaans and said ‘wit kant’ – which translates as ‘white side’. It quickly became a running gag online, with memes making light of the similarities of the wording and using it to mischievous effect.

The digital tomfoolery has now made the transition to the real world. Upon the return of the Boks to South African soil, many shirts have been adorned with some variation of the ‘kant’ word.

The Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, was photographed with a t-shirt adorned with ‘wen kant’ – which translates as winning side – during the Springboks victory parade in the city.

In fact, he even gifted Mbonambi with the same t-shirt.

[WATCH] Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis gifts #Springboks player Bongi Mbonambi with a rugby jersey with the phrase "Wen Kant" during the Mother City leg of the #TrophyTour. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/0kvKYCOmIm

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) November 3, 2023

The Springboks “denied the allegations from the outset”.

While the accusation has been made light of, they were taken very seriously by England. Curry was met with abuse online for making the allegations, while the RFU clearly believe that Mbonambi had a case to answer.

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi revealed that he has been in contact with Curry to show his support in response to the online witch-hunt to which the Sale flanker has been subjected.

“I have spoken to him, I sent him a message. He is someone I respect,” Kolisi said. “We can take it as players, when it comes to you it’s fine, but when families are involved it’s different. I have let him know we are supporting him, we are thinking of him.”

additional reporting PA