Orlando Pirates midfielder sentenced to three years for assaulting girlfriend

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Orlando Pirates midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch has been found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm towards his girlfriend by the Randburg Magistrates Court.

The charges emanates from the time when the victim Fundiswa Nokuphiwa Mathithibala said she was visiting the 30 years old Lorch at his home and he later on left her to go out with his friend. Mathithibala saw that it was getting late and messaged him to return her car keys.

On arrival, an argument ensued and Lorch became violent towards her and started to strangle her, beat her whilst pulling her up and down. She called for help and his friend came to her rescue.

Following the occurrence of the incident at his place of residence in Midrand, on 06 September 2020, he was arrested the following day and was later on released on R 2000 bail.

He was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

The sentence was wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of committing a similar offence during the period of suspension. He was further ordered to pay a fine of R100 000 to the non-governmental organisation, People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA), with R50 000 payable immediately (today), and the balance in instalments.