In a surprise announcement by the NHA, S’Manga Khumalo’s appeal against his recent sentence has been successful and he could be back race-riding in just 18 months after effectively being banned for just two years.
His original sentence of 15 years with five suspended was an effective ten years.
This begs a question about the Luyolo Mxothwa case as he was given an effective two year ban after lesser charges against him.
Khumalo was found guilty of all three charges against him in the original case.
They were:
- Corrupt / dishonest practice – improper communication of non-public race information
- Charge 2: Corrupt receipt/acceptance of money or benefit (gratification) connected to race activity
- Charge 3: Conduct affecting the performance of a horse / failure to ride on the merits (race fixing)
The sentence handed out was:
- Mr Khumalo’s current jockey licence is cancelled with immediate effect.
- Mr Khumalo is precluded from applying for, renewing, holding, or being issued any jockey licence for a period of fifteen (15) years, commencing 23 March 2026, of which five (5) years are suspended for 15 years on the conditions as set out by the Inquiry Board, as attached.
He was given the right to appeal and took up that right.
The outcome of the appeal was published today (see below):
PRESS RELEASE
APPEAL JOCKEY S’MANGA KHUMALO
The Appeal into Jockey S’manga Khumalo convened before an appointed Appeal Board on 22 October 2026.
Following the Ruling imposed by the Inquiry Board, and the subsequent appeal brought by the Appellant, the following Order is hereby issued on the basis of agreements reached between the parties, which the Appeal Board endorses, viz:
1.1 The Order of the Appeal Board cancelling Mr Khumalo’s current jockey licence with immediate effect, is hereby confirmed.
1.2 Mr Khumalo is precluded from applying for, renewing, holding, or being issued with a jockey licence for a period of five (5) years, commencing on 23 March 2026, of which five-year period, three (3) years are suspended for 5 years on the conditions set out in paragraph 1.3 below.
1.3 The suspended portion of the Ruling in paragraph 1.2 is conditional upon compliance with the following:
Mr Khumalo must not be found guilty of any conduct that involves dishonesty or that brings, or is likely to bring, horse racing into disrepute, during the operative period of the suspended portion.
The following Orders, as attached, are made at the specific request and instance of the Parties, and without the Appeal Board’s inquiry into the legalities thereof.
Vee Moodley
Chief Executive
