The Orlando Pirates football club broke its silence after its jersey number 3 player, Thembinkosi Lorch, was found guilty of assaulting Fundiswa Nokuphiwa Mathithibala, on 6 September 2020.
The soccer player who recently welcomed a baby with actress Natasha Thahane, was arrested in 2020 after his then girlfriend Fundiswa opened a case of assault against him. According to the NPA the footballer was later released on bail of R2000.
Orlando Pirates sent out a statement afterwards stating that Thembinkosi came forward after the incident, owned up to his mistakes and has been getting help since then.
The club’ statement reads:
“Orlando Pirates Football Club notes the decision handed down by the Randburg Magistrate Court regarding Mr Thembinkosi Lorch on Tuesday. As a Club we reiterate our stance against violence perpetrated against women and children and as a result when this matter came to light in 2020, the Club carried out its own investigation:”
” Following our internal investigations, the Club charged Mr Lorch with serious misconduct. He pleaded guilty to the charge and the Club imposed a sanction of a monetary fine and ordered him to undergo anger management therapy.”
” Mr Lorch also informed the Club that he had instructed attorneys to assist him with the criminal charges against him and they intended to approach the Director of Public Prosecutions (“DPP”) to make representations regarding the charges against him so that he could go through a diversion programme. He further advised that he was attending therapy with Dr. Nomsa Nkuna-Boikanyo as part of his rehabilitation. The Club approved that he completes therapy with Dr Nkuna-Boikanyo instead of running a parallel process organised by the Club.”
“Mr Lorch informed us that he attended the anger management therapy and completed the prescribed number of sessions. Since then, Mr Lorch has not been involved in any similar incident or an incident involving violence. We are confident that the anger management therapy was an appropriate corrective measure.”
“However, Mr Lorch’s representations to the DPP were not successful and the criminal proceedings continued. Today, 6 June 2023, Mr Lorch was found guilty of assault (gender-based violence) and will be sentenced in due course. We currently do not have the full details of the conviction or the sentencing date and have requested Mr Lorch to provide these details.”
The club further went to note that no comments would be issued until the whole process was concluded.
Also see: Thando Thabethe gets a protection order against ex Lunga Shabalala
