Elton Jantjies, the Springbok fyhalf was arrested and escorted off the plane at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday 15 May 2022, upon landing in Johannesburg for malicious damage to property. Jantjies was apparently traveling with his family in business class from Dubai for the week prior his arrest back in South Africa.

According to reports, It is unclear if Jantjies remains in police custody at this time. SA Rugby have confirmed contact from SAPS. “We’ve been informed of Elton’s arrest, but we are still in the process of gathering more information and can’t say anything at this stage,” said an SA Rugby spokesperson.

Police spokesperson, Colonel Athlenda Mathe, informed that the arrest had to do with an in-flight incident. Colonel Mathe would simply say that “a 31-year-old man has been arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport for malicious damage to property”. “The man was arrested upon arrival at ORTIA this morning at 08:50. The suspect was on an international flight from Dubai to SA when he allegedly damaged property belonging to the airline,” she said

“Jantjies was undergoing rehabilitation for an injury but had been spotted at recent matches in South Africa, sitting in the stands”