South Africa's Tsotsobe, Tsolekile and Mbhalati arrested, charged with corruption

Former South African cricketers Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Thami Tsolekile, and ex-Titans bowler Ethy Mbhalati have been arrested on five corruption charges related to the 2015-16 Ram Slam T20 match-fixing scandal.

In Short

• Ex-cricketers Tsotsobe, Tsolekile, Mbhalati charged with corruption
• Charges linked to 2015-16 Ram Slam T20 match-fixing scandal
• CSA previously banned seven players for match-fixing roles

Former South Africa cricketers Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Thami Tsolekile, and ex-Titans bowler Ethy Mbhalati have been arrested and charged with five counts of corruption under Section 15 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004. The charges stem from the match-fixing scandal during the 2015-16 Ram Slam T20 Challenge.

The trio faces accusations of accepting or offering to accept gratification to manipulate matches, an act that undermines the integrity of sporting events. The allegations were investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), known as the Hawks, a branch of the South African Police Service tasked with handling organized and economic crimes.

The charges, which include collusion with Indian bookmakers, relate to attempts to fix three matches during the domestic T20 tournament. However, Cricket South Africa (CSA) previously stated that no matches were ultimately impacted after the conspirators' plans were foiled.

Tsotsobe, Tsolekile, and Mbhalati are among seven players banned by CSA between 2016 and 2017 for their roles in the match-fixing plot. This group also includes Gulam Bodi, who has already served time in prison, and Jean Symes and Pumi Matshikwe, who received suspended sentences after pleading guilty in 2021 and 2022. There has been no update regarding potential charges against Alviro Petersen, the seventh player implicated in the scandal.

The Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, implemented following the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal in 2000, is being applied to sportspersons for the first time in this case. The cases against Tsotsobe, Tsolekile, and Mbhalati have been postponed until February 2025, with legal processes ongoing.

Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, National Head of the Hawks, underscored the importance of protecting the integrity of sports:
"Corruption undermines the integrity of sport, and the Hawks are determined to safeguard the values of fairness and professionalism in all areas of society. We thank Cricket South Africa for their cooperation and commitment to addressing this scourge."