Former South Africa cricketer Lonwabo Tsotsobe and two others arrested for match fixing

Lonwabo Tsotsobe played 89 international matches for South Africa.

Former South Africa cricketers Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Thami Tsolekile and ex-Titans bowler Ethy Mbhalati have been arrested by the South African Police Service and charged with five counts of corruption under South Africa’s Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004.

The charges have come in the light of their involvement in a match-fixing scandal during the 2015-16 Ram Slam Challenge, a domestic T20 tournament.

These charges relate to corrupt activities in sports, including accepting or offering bribes to influence the run of play. These three players are among the seven banned by Cricket South Africa (CSA) between 2016 and 2017. The trio is now set to face legal consequences under Section 15 of the Act.

The incident also marks the first time the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act has been executed since the infamous match-fixing case of Hansie Cronje in 2000.

The investigation led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, revealed that former South Africa batsman Gulam Bodi approached several players, in collusion with Indian bookmakers, to fix three matches in Ram Slam Challenge. However, CSA confirmed that none of the attempted match-fixing efforts were successful.

Lonwabo Tsotsobe played five tests, 61 ODIs and 23 T20Is between 2010 and 2014.

Hawks determined to combat corruption in South African sports

Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, National Head of the DPCI, emphasized the importance of integrity in sports.

He said, “Corruption undermines the values of fairness and professionalism. The Hawks remain committed to safeguarding these principles across all areas of society.”

He also thanked Cricket South Africa for their cooperation on the issue.

He continued, “We thank Cricket South Africa for their cooperation and commitment to addressing this scourge.“

While Gulam Bodi has already served a five-year prison sentence, Jean Symes and Pumi Matshikwe received suspended sentences in 2021 and 2022 after pleading guilty. The seventh implicated player in the case, Alviro Petersen, has not faced any recent legal action. He was banned for two years by CSA in 2016.

This controversy has brought an indelible stain on South African cricket.

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