Skipper Graeme Smith defends Philander's tweet

Responding to public outrage at a spate of rapes and murders, including one in the small western Cape town of Bredasdorp, Philander tweeted: "Sickening to hear all the rape-murder cases taking place at the moment. Bring back the death penalty and see how these numbers drop."

Graeme Smith

"Grown men have opinions on different matters in life," said Smith. "We spend a lot of time together so many things are discussed. There has been a lot of campaigning around rape and murder and sorting out the crime in South Africa."

Philander

There is no death penalty in South Africa and Lulu Xingwana, the Women and Children Minister, said on Tuesday it would not be reintroduced, although she said bail should be denied to two men accused of raping and disemboweling Bredasdorp teenager Anene Booysen.