They handed themselves over to police in the morning.

Among them was former Transnet chief executive Siyabonga Gama and Eric Wood, an associate of members of the Gupta family who are implicated in state corruption - charges they deny.

The five were granted bail.

The arrests follow the end of a commission of inquiry into corruption and the release of a report that recommended the prosecution of several Transnet former executives.

The authorities say more arrests are expected.

This is hugely significant for South Africa.

A long-running commission of inquiry into high-level corruption known as State Capture cost millions of dollars but has so far seen few arrests.