Orlando Pirates fans and football enthusiasts were taken aback when the salary of midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch was disclosed. This revelation came about during Lorch’s appearance at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court, where his lawyer, Pierre de Kock, was asked to share personal information about him.
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Legal Proceedings and Salary Disclosure of Thembinkosi Lorch
Lorch, a 30-year-old player for the Pirates, is awaiting sentencing after being found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Fundiswa Nokuphiwa Mathithibala. The assault occurred in September 2020 when the two were still in a relationship.
In an attempt to secure a more lenient sentence for his client, De Kock revealed that Lorch earns approximately R50 000. He also disclosed that the award-winning soccer star has dependents – his siblings and two children aged eight and three.
Public Reaction to Salary Reveal
The disclosure of Lorch’s salary has shocked football fans on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Many were under the impression that the player earned significantly more.
Mathithibala’s Testimony
According to TimesLIVE, Mathithibala provided a detailed account of her relationship with Lorch in a victim impact statement. She described their romance which began in 2018 and how they moved in together the same year.
In October 2019, Lorch purchased a townhouse in Midrand after receiving a pay increase from Orlando Pirates. Mathithibala lent him R150k which he used towards the house.
In 2020, they decided to start a family and Mathithibala fell pregnant but unfortunately suffered a miscarriage. Their relationship took a turn for the worse when Lorch allegedly began having trust issues and accused Mathithibala of infidelity.
The Assault Incident
Mathithibala alleged that Lorch had physically abused her twice before but she did not report him because she wanted to protect his image and career. She detailed an incident where an argument led to Lorch becoming violent towards her, accusing her of cheating.
The case has been postponed to 21 November as the judge needs more time to consider the matter.