Former South African cricketers arrested on match-fixing charges
Cape Town: Three former South African cricketers, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Thami Tsolekile, and Ethy Mbhalati, have been arrested and charged with multiple counts of corruption in connection to the 2015-16 Ram Slam T20 Challenge match-fixing scandal.
The trio faces five charges under s. 15 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004, a South African law aimed at tackling corruption. Investigations by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks, revealed their alleged involvement in attempting to manipulate matches in collaboration with Indian bookmakers.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has clarified that no matches were ultimately affected, as the conspirators’ plans were thwarted. However, the scandal has cast a shadow on the integrity of South African cricket.
These arrests follow the 2016-2017 bans imposed on the three cricketers, alongside four others, for their roles in the same scandal. Among them, Gulam Bodi served time in prison, while Jean Symes and Pumi Matshikwe received suspended sentences after pleading guilty in 2021 and 2022. There has been no update on possible charges against Alviro Petersen, another player implicated in the controversy.
The legal proceedings, which mark the first application of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act in sports-related corruption, have been postponed until February 2025 to allow further investigation.
Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, National Head of the Hawks, stressed the importance of safeguarding the integrity of sport, stating, “Corruption undermines the integrity of sport, and the Hawks are determined to safeguard the values of fairness and professionalism in all areas of society.”
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Mudigere: 22-yr-old youngster hangs herself to death after father scolds her for not making curry
Mudigere: A 22-year-old young woman, Soujanya Poojary, who was upset over an apparently trivial issue, has allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at home in Devavrinda village of the taluk on Saturday evening.
On Saturday morning, Soujanya’s father Natesh Poojary handed her vegetables, instructed her to prepare curry using them and went out. When he returned home in the afternoon, however, he found that his daughter had not prepared the curry and scolded her. He also told her to get curry from a neighbour’s house and again went out.
Soujanya, after being treated harshly by her father, reportedly closed the door of the house and hanged herself to death inside.
Gonibeedu Police officers, who were informed of her death, have registered a case and are investigating.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
