Wise4Afrika – an anti-gender-based violence (GBV) organisation – has lashed out at Orlando Pirates for their decision to field Thembinkosi Lorch amid his pending sentencing.
In June this year, Lorch was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend Fundiswa Mathithibala with intent to cause grievous bodily harm by the Randburg magistrate's court for an incident which happened in 2020.
The former PSL Footballer of the Season made his long-awaited return to Pirates' line-up in the Carling Knockout match against Cape Town Spurs on October 20.
He was voted for by the public as Man of the Match and walked away with R100 000 in prize money which goes with the award.
The 30-year-old was again in the starting line-up as Bucs played successive draws against AmaZulu and Polokwane City respectively.
Wise4Afrika director Advocate Brenda Madumise-Pajibo has lashed out at the decision to field the player.
The Good
"These players are role models to the young men in the country but are those the kind of role models that they should look up to? Why should I do that (raise the matter with the club). It doesn't require me to do that. You have been involved in campaigns against GBV and you understand what GBV is. But from what has happened, it gives one an impression that whatever that was done was just for show and you didn't mean it. In fact, this demonstrates that you don't believe in it," said Madumise-Pajibo.
The Bad
"Lorch was before a court that found him guilty of assault against his ex-girlfriend. Lorch is yet to be sentenced for that crime. Let us not forget that that's a crime. We can't sugarcoat it; it is a crime that he committed. If people live by what they have been saying to South Africa for the longest of time about GBV, a club as big as Pirates and the PSL should not have allowed Lorch to play. Lorch himself should not have agreed to play especially in the light of this case that has been ongoing and is about to be sentenced. He would say to South Africa, 'I know that I have been found guilty and I want to show the country that I take this matter seriously.' With him playing, it's like saying we minimise the seriousness of gender-based violence as a country," she said.
The Ugly
"All the campaigns that have been there about gender-based violence were just for show. They didn't mean what they said and maybe they can only take action once it happens to their own. Once it happens to their own, they will want to justify it and they will want to explain it. That's the position we are in. Stop with the campaigns about gender-based violence because you don't believe in it. You are just doing it because you want to be seen as fighting against gender-based violence but when one of your own has been found guilty of such you show us the middle finger by not taking a stand. Orlando Pirates are not taking a stand. What you have done as a club you are normalising that it is okay and that 'we still believe in you that you can still play even though you have assaulted," she concluded.
What do you think of Lorch's performances since his return?
