Orlando Pirates’ Statement Regarding Thembinkosi Lorch’s Domestic Violence Verdict. On Tuesday, Thembinkosi Lorch, was found guilty by the Randburg Magistrate Court for assaulting his ex girlfriend Nokuthula Mathithibala. The incident happened back in September 2020, when the two were dating. At the time, Lorch was arrested and released on a R2K bail.
As his employer, Orlando Pirates Football Club has released a statement, stating their stance on the matter. The football club started by noting the decision handed down by the court. Orlando Pirates, then added that they reiterate their stance against violence perpetrated against women and children. As a result when this matter came to light in 2020, the Club carried out its own investigation
Read more on the statement below;
“1. 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.
2. 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 organized by the Club.
3. 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.
4. 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.”
In conclusion, Orlando Pirates Football Club said they will not make any further comment until the process is complete.
