Champion jockey S’manga Khumalo has been found guilty on all three charges relating to corruption, bribery, and race-fixing following an inquiry into his conduct. The South African horse racing fraternity has been shaken by a series of corruption and race-fixing scandals involving some of the sport’s most prominent jockeys.
The inquiry, convened by an appointed Inquiry Board, found that Khumalo had committed serious breaches of the rules of the National Horseracing Authority (NHA), which governs the integrity of horse racing in South Africa. The KwaMashu-born and two-time Durban July winning jockey faced three charges, including corrupt and dishonest practices involving the communication of non-public race information.
Race-Fixing Allegations
The most serious allegation related to race-fixing, with Khumalo accused of intentionally failing to ride horses on their merits by allegedly restraining horses or failing to secure the best possible placings during races. Although he pleaded not guilty to the charge, the Inquiry Board ultimately found him guilty.
According to the National Horseracing Authority, the inquiry found that Khumalo accepted approximately R128,000 in exchange for providing insider information and for agreeing to ride in a manner that could influence race outcomes for betting purposes. Khumalo pleaded guilty to the charge.
Penalties and Suspension
Arguments regarding penalties are underway, and the Inquiry Board has reserved judgment on sentencing, with proceedings set to resume on 29 May 2026. Khumalo remains under interim suspension pending the finalisation of the inquiry. In a separate matter, another prominent South African jockey, Luyolo Mxothwa, was handed a five-year suspension from race riding following a separate inquiry by the NHA.
The following are some key points from the inquiry:
- Khumalo was found guilty on all three charges relating to corruption, bribery, and race-fixing.
- The inquiry found that Khumalo accepted approximately R128,000 in exchange for providing insider information.
- Khumalo pleaded guilty to two of the charges, but pleaded not guilty to the charge of race-fixing.
The South African horse racing community is awaiting the outcome of the sentencing, which is expected to have a significant impact on the sport. As reported by Wikipedia, horse racing is a popular sport in South Africa, with a rich history and a large following.
