Former Proteas Cricketers Arrested In T20 Ram Slam Match-Fixing Scandal

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks, has arrested former Proteas players Thamsanqa Tsolekile and Lonwabo Tsotsobe, along with former first-class cricketer Ethy Mbhalati, in connection with an alleged match-fixing scandal during the 2015/2016 domestic T20 Ram Slam Challenge.

The arrests, which took place on November 18, 28, and 29, follow a whistleblower’s allegations in October 2016. According to Hawks officials, the three players are accused of fixing at least three matches during the season.

Arrest Of Proteas Cricketers

The investigation was led by the Serious Corruption Investigation unit and revealed that the accused players were allegedly approached by former Proteas cricketer Gulam Bodi to manipulate matches. Bodi, who was arrested in 2018, pleaded guilty to corruption and was sentenced to four years in prison, with his sentence fully suspended for five years.

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Ethy Mbhalati appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, where his case was postponed to February 20, 2025, for further instructions. Thamsanqa Tsolekile and Lonwabo Tsotsobe face five counts of corruption under Section 15 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004 (PRECCA). Their cases have been adjourned until February 26, 2025, for the disclosure process.

Hawks Commend Cricket South Africa

Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, head of the Hawks, commended Cricket South Africa for their cooperation during the investigation.

“Corruption undermines the integrity of sport, and the Hawks are determined to safeguard the values of fairness and professionalism in all areas of society,” said Lebeya. “We thank Cricket South Africa for their commitment to addressing this scourge.”

The match-fixing scandal first came to light in 2016 when allegations surfaced implicating several players in manipulating matches during the domestic T20 tournament. Cricket South Africa imposed bans on the accused players, and the arrest of Gulam Bodi marked the beginning of a broader investigation into corruption within the sport.

The arrests of Tsolekile, Tsotsobe, and Mbhalati are seen as a continuation of efforts to root out corruption and ensure the integrity of South African cricket.

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