Overview

• Angus Beukes, a South African mechanic, was found not guilty of causing racially aggravated harassment after using the n-word near former England rugby player Ugo Monye at a November 2023 rugby match in Exeter.
• Beukes argued in court that the term is commonly used without offense in South Africa and claimed he was unaware of its offensive meaning in the UK.
• Magistrates concluded that prosecutors failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Beukes knew the term was offensive in Britain or intended to cause alarm or distress.
• Witnesses testified that Beukes directed the term toward a South African friend to reprimand her, though Monye alleged it was used multiple times in his presence.
• The Rugby Football Union and the Exeter Chiefs issued apologies to Monye, who expressed frustration over the incident and the lack of intervention from bystanders.