Four SA cricket players banned for match fixing involvement

8 August 2016 2:23 PM

Following lengthy investigations, Crickets South Africa announced a ban on four players for their involvement in match-fixing during the 2015 RamSlam T20 season.

The banning of these players follows a 20-year ban of former Proteas, player Gulam Bodi after he admitted charges of attempting to fix matches in the 2015 RamSlam T20 Series.

According to Eye Witness News Sports reporter Carl Lewis, this is the first time that CSA is going public about the matter, although there has been reports in the media about it.

Lewis says Bodi acted as an intermediary for international betting syndicates, in which he lured certain players and got them involved in illicit fixing activities during the competition.

According to CSA evidence, no match fixing took place, but the four players were banned for failure to report the matter when they were approached by international betting syndicates. The four also received payments and destroyed some evidence which was relevant to the investigation.

Thami Tsolekile has been banned for 12 years. Both Pumelela Matshiwe and Ethy Mbhalati have been banned for 10 years Jean Symes has been banned for seven years

Tsolekile is banned for 12 years because he had a direct connection to Bodi and played a role in delaying investigations, says Lewis.

Listen to the full conversation below:

Listen below to Stephen Grootes speaking to Cricket Commentator, Aslam Khota as well as Carl Lewis about this matter.

Written by: Lengwadishang Ramphele