The wife of South Africa rugby player Elton Jantjies, Iva Jantjies, has given an interview in the wake of the scandal involving her husband.
Iva Jantjies breaks her silence in an interview: Here’s what she had to say
According to News24, a social media post alerted Iva Jantjies to allegations that her rugby star husband Elton Jantjies had an affair with Springboks dietitian Zeenat Simjee.
Iva says that she is unlikely to remain in a relationship with the flyhalf after he was sent home when the scandal surfaced. She also hit out at the Springboks management for allowing the alleged situation to develop within the team environment.
In an interview with the news organisation, Iva said:
“We have been together since 2014 and had our ups and downs like every other couple. I have always been there to support him through good and bad times, and I still am. When we met, he was not even part of the Bok squad, we worked really hard for him to achieve his goals and dreams. [I] sacrificed so many things, including my career and my dreams.”
She went on further, saying:
“We are speaking all the time. He is very disappointed. I think it’s also good for him to distance himself for the Bok squad and process everything.”
Iva mentioned that she was surprised by SA Rugby’s statement. SA Rugby claimed that no team protocols were broken.
“This is very concerning for all the Springbok wives as none of us was aware that this behaviour is actually not breaking any rules, and it’s taken so lightly,” she said.
Iva said that Jantjies had denied the allegations. The Springbok flyhalf is expected to return to the family home in Japan next week.
It has been a challenging year for flyhalf Jantjies, who started for South Africa against Wales in the first Test of the summer but was hooked after a disastrous personal performance.
He was also detained at an airport in May over allegations about his behaviour on a flight that allegedly saw damage caused to a plane he was travelling on. The charges were eventually withdrawn.
Who is Iva Jantjies?
Iva Ristic was born on 19 June 1989 in South Africa. She has an undying love for designing and art, and she is also into acting and modelling.
It is said that Elton and Iva met at a magazine photoshoot, where they became acquaintances. Soon after, they kept seeing each other, and the meetings became more frequent. The two wed in 2019 and share three sons.
