LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Thembinkosi Lorch, a South African soccer player, was convicted guilty of beating and strangling his ex-girlfriend, Fundiswa Nokuphiwa Mathithibala.
The 30-year-old football player was found guilty of assault with the purpose to cause Mathithibala bodily damage by the Randburg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 6 June, 2023.
“The case relates to a complaint laid with the Midrand Police by Mathithibala in September 2020, that resulted in his arrest and subsequent release on bail of R2000,” the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa regional spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane said.
Following an incident that occurred at his Midrand home on September 6, 2020, the Orlando Pirates star was detained on September 7, 2020.
Mathithibala claimed that Lorch abandoned her at his house while she was visiting him so that he could go out with a friend. As it got later, Mathithibala sent him a message asking him to return her car keys.
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Upon their arrival, they got into a fight, and Lorch started to beat and strangle her while pulling her up and down.
When she cried out for assistance, his friend responded.
Mjonondwane said, “The State prosecutor, Ms. Michele Hart, argued that the medical evidence supported the complainant’s testimony.”
“Since the accused did not have any wounds, he was the one who was the aggressor.
The accused and his witness left a bad impression in court and seemed to be unreliable sources,” Mjonondwane continued.
For sentence proceedings, the case was continued to July 28, 2023.
