Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, who took to Twitter to vent his fury over what he suspected to be an old SA flag in the crowd at the Rugby World Cup semifinal in Japan on Sunday, has apologised for being mistaken. 

SA's tourism minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, entered the fray on Monday, saying: “Fellow South Africans and those that tagged me. There is the video and hope it puts the matter to rest now. The next few days must be about supporting our team.”

Lesufi noted a group of white South African fans with what appeared to be a blue and orange flag at the game, and said it had spoilt the occasion. 

“That flag, unfortunately is spoiling it! This team Springboks belongs to all of us. Let’s avoid hurting each other unnecessarily,” he tweeted. 

However, fans were quick to investigate and discovered that the group of wig-wearing “Faf de Klerk” Bok fans were, in fact, proudly carrying the new SA flag. 

Lesufi acknowledged his error, which many Twitter users deemed a divisive and “dangerous” blunder. 

“Sincere apologies fellow South Africans,” he tweeted. “The initial angle was completely wrong! Let’s celebrate the team’s win @Springboks Forward with social cohesion. We are better together than divided! Apartheid flag divides South African flag unites! Slaan hulle die volgende week!”

This is the second Twitter controversy involving the team during the World Cup campaign. Earlier, certain white players were accused of celebrating without their black teammates.

The incident that caused the furore was explained as members of the substitutions' bench celebrating together as the “Bomb Squad”. The composition of the group of “impact players”,  brought in to “bomb” the opposition with fresh power at key points in the match, varies regularly and across race lines, depending on team requirements. 

This was at least the second time Lesufi has jumped the gun in his eagerness to expose what he sees as racist behaviour. In May, he accused an employee of a motor dealership of writing racist WhatsApp messages. He had to retract the assertion after a full investigation.

The Springboks, who beat Wales 19-16 on Sunday, will be back in action on Saturday in the final against England.