Former Bafana Bafana player and retired football star Thandani Ntshumayelo recently appeared in the Randburg magistrate’s court on Monday, where he was granted bail after being taken into custody on charges of domestic violence. His bail amount was set at R1,000.
The former Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United midfielder faces assault charges under the Domestic Violence Act. These charges stem from a criminal case filed by his girlfriend, Itumeleng Alice, who accused him of striking her with an open hand and hitting her against the wall. The court has postponed the case to April 4 for further investigation.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Ntshumayelo has faced adversity. In 2016, he received a four-year ban after testing positive for drugs. His contract with Orlando Pirates was terminated, causing his career to slow down prematurely. However, the ban was later revoked following a successful appeal. In June 2023, he officially announced his retirement from football, stating, “I feel privileged to have realized my dream of becoming a professional footballer”.
Meanwhile, another former Orlando Pirates player, Thamsanqa Gabuza, has an arrest warrant issued for him due to his non-attendance in court regarding a charge of intentionally causing damage to property. Gabuza, who also played for SuperSport United, is currently with Premier Soccer League club TS Galaxy and is out on R3,000 bail.