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

South African cricketers Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Thami Tsolekile and Ethy Mbhalati were charged with five counts of corruption and arrested on November 29 (Friday) under the country’s Section 15 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004.

The section relates to corrupt activities associated with sporting events, including accepting or offering to accept any gratification from another person for engaging in any act which threatens to undermine the integrity of a sporting event or influence the run of play.

The incident dates back to the 2015-16 Ram Slam Challenge where attempts to fix matches were foiled and seven cricketers were banned by Cricket South Africa (CSA) for two to 12 years depending upon the severity of the involvement. 

While Tsotsobe, Tsolekile and Mbhalati have been arrested with cases postponed to 2025 for hearing, Gulam Bodi served time in jail. Jean Symes and Pumi Matshikwe were given suspended sentences after pleading guilty in 2021 and 2022. 

Alviro Petersen, banned by the CSA, has so far not been served any kind of sentence as per law. It was Bodi who was approached by Indian bookmakers to fix three domestic matches. 

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