Ex-Orlando Pirates Midfielder Thandani Ntshumayelo Arrested for Assaulting Girlfriend
Thandani “Bibo” Ntshumayelo, a former defensive midfielder for Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates, was arrested last Saturday on charges of assaulting his girlfriend.
Ntshumayelo appeared in court on Monday at the Randburg Magistrates Court, where he faced a charge of common assault under the Domestic Violence Act.
Ex-Orlando Pirates Defensive Midfielder Arrested for Assaulting Girlfriend
According to the court proceedings, the incident occurred on Friday when a fight broke out between Ntshumayelo and one of his friends while they were at home with his girlfriend, Itumeleng Alice.
It was reported that Ntshumayelo’s girlfriend tried to intervene and calm him down during the altercation. However, he allegedly responded with aggression, slapping her across the face, grabbing her head, and forcefully hitting it against the wall. She further alleges that he then pushed her to the ground.
Ntshumayelo was released out of custody on R1,000 bail. The case was adjourned until April 4 to allow the police to conduct further investigations.
Unsettling Trend
This incident adds to a troubling trend among players associated with Orlando Pirates Football Club. Just last year, Thembinkosi Lorch, a former player for the club and now a midfielder for Sundowns, was convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend. Lorch received a three-game suspension from Pirates as a result of his misconduct.
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Career Setbacks and Personal Challenges
Ntshumayelo, who retired from professional football in June of last year, faced a significant setback in his career back in 2015 when traces of cocaine were found in his bloodstream. As a consequence, he was banned from both professional and amateur football in 2016 after testing positive for the drug. However, he successfully appealed his sentence in 2018 and returned to the sport. Despite his comeback, he struggled to secure a regular position at Baroka FC and Moroka Swallows.
In addition to his career challenges, Ntshumayelo has also experienced difficulties in his personal life. In 2015, he was allegedly involved in a love triangle with his then-girlfriend, Pulane Lenkoe. Lenkoe was accused of cheating on him with Victor Sidambe, a Johannesburg businessman and security company tycoon who was reportedly financing her extravagant lifestyle. The public became aware of Ntshumayelo and Lenkoe’s relationship when a nude photo of Lenkoe was leaked and went viral on social media.
