Three former South African cricketers—Thami Tsolekile, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, and Ethy Mbhalati—have been arrested in connection with a match-fixing scandal from the 2015/16 T20 Ram Slam Challenge. The arrests took place on November 18, 28, and 29, 2024, following an investigation that spanned nearly eight years.
Background of the scandal
The scandal first came to light in October 2016, when allegations surfaced about match-fixing activities orchestrated by former Proteas player Gulam Bodi. Cricket South Africa’s anti-corruption unit discovered that Bodi had approached several players to manipulate the outcomes of three local T20 matches, allegedly in collaboration with Indian bookmakers.
Bodi pleaded guilty to eight charges of corruption in 2018 and was sentenced to five years in prison in October 2019. The recent arrests of Tsolekile, Tsotsobe, and Mbhalati come after the Serious Corruption Investigation unit of the DPCI uncovered further evidence implicating the trio.
Legal proceedings
Tsolekile and Tsotsobe face five counts of corruption under Section 15 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004 (PRECCA). They appeared before the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on November 29, 2024. The case has been postponed to February 26, 2025, for further disclosure.
International careers of the accused
Among the three arrested, Lonwabo Tsotsobe had an international career, representing South Africa in 5 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 23 T20Is. His last appearance was during the 2014 T20 World Cup, where South Africa reached the semifinals.
Thami Tsolekile and Ethy Mbhalati, on the other hand, remained limited to domestic cricket, competing in First-Class and List A matches without breaking into the national team.
Implications
The arrests are a significant step in addressing corruption in cricket, reaffirming the need for vigilance and transparency to safeguard the integrity of the sport. With the case heading to court in early 2025, the cricketing community will closely watch the outcome of these legal proceedings.