Cricket Scandal Rocks SA: Hawks Nab Ex-Players in Explosive Match-Fixing Bust!

In a significant blow to corruption in South African sports, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), better known as the Hawks, has arrested three former cricketers implicated in a match-fixing scheme. The arrests are part of an ongoing crackdown on corruption in sports, following an investigation into the 2015/2016 domestic T20 Ram Slam Challenge competition.

The players arrested—Ethy Mbhalati (43), Thamsanqa Tsolekile (44), and Lonwaba Tsotsoeb (40)—were taken into custody between November 18 and November 29, 2024. They are accused of conspiring to fix matches during the 2015/2016 T20 tournament. The investigation into the scandal began after a whistleblower’s tip-off in October 2016, which prompted a thorough probe by the DPCI’s Serious Corruption Investigation unit.

Colonel Katlego Mogale of the Hawks stated, “The arrests follow a meticulous investigation and come after allegations surfaced from a whistleblower who first reported the matter in 2016.”

#sapsHAWKS The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), known as the Hawks, has made significant strides in rooting out corruption in sports by arresting three former South African cricket players implicated in a match-fixing scheme during the 2015/2016 domestic T20… pic.twitter.com/IdKlMz2i9y

— SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) November 29, 2024

The accused were charged with corruption, with Mbhalati appearing in court on November 18. His case has been postponed to February 20, 2025. Tsolekile and Tsotsobe faced five counts of corruption and appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on November 29. Their cases have been postponed to February 26, 2025.

The match-fixing plot was originally uncovered by Cricket South Africa’s Anti-Corruption Officer after suspicions arose regarding former Proteas player Gulam Bodi. The investigation revealed that Bodi had colluded with bookmakers from India to fix several matches, and he approached multiple players to participate in the scheme.

Bodi was arrested in July 2018, pleaded guilty to eight counts of corruption, and received a five-year prison sentence in October 2019. Other former players linked to the scandal include Jean Symes, arrested in May 2021, who pleaded guilty to one count of corruption and was sentenced to a five-year suspended sentence. Pumi Matshikwe was arrested in February 2022, also pleading guilty to one count of corruption and receiving a six-year suspended sentence.

Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, National Head of the DPCI, commended the Hawks team for their dedication to tackling corruption in 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,” he said.

The DPCI continues to encourage anyone with information about corrupt activities in sports to come forward, emphasizing that the fight against corruption is a collective responsibility.

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