In a letter of apology on Thursday to the Western Province Cricket Association, an English fan arrested for scribbling racist graffiti on seats at the Newlands cricket ground said he regrets his actions and promised never to do it again.
”I am extremely sorry for any offence caused to the staff and patrons of the ground on this day [January 3] who may have witnessed the act, or those involved in the cleaning operation,” read the letter from Matthew Weller.
He expressed his sincerest and ”most humble” apologies to the cricket association for his behaviour and for damaged caused to property.
”I wholly regret my actions, which were totally out of character and promise that I shall never again act in this manner.”
The 33-year-old Weller, of Wolverhampton, was on Thursday sentenced to a fine of R4 000 or six months in jail.
The racist graffiti cost Newlands cricket authorities more than R15 000 to remove, the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court heard earlier on Thursday.
Weller pleaded guilty to a charge of malicious damage to property.
He used a black felt pen to scrawl swastikas and the words ”I hate darks” on 17 seats on Newlands’ presidential pavilion on Monday, the first day of the third cricket Test between South Africa and England.
Wynberg Magistrate JD Kotze also ordered Weller to pay compensation of R1 210 to the Western Province Cricket Association.
He said the court will not make an order in relation to R11 250 it had cost to switch on the floodlights at the stadium on Monday evening so a police photographer could photograph the graffiti.
Cleaning and staff cost brought the total to R15 344,40.
This is something the cricket association can take up through a civil action.
He said Weller had degraded and insulted other people, which was an aggravating circumstance, and that if he had wanted to show off, there were other ways to do it.
As a supporter of the English cricket team, he is unofficially a representative of his country and the court expects him to act accordingly.
The magistrate said he will keep Weller’s passport until he pays the fine and the compensation.
Prosecutor Catherine Putter said the Newlands authorities have banned Weller from the rest of the Cape Town Test, and Wanderers’ management in Johannesburg has ”also been notified”. — Sapa