Thembinkosi Lorch, the former Orlando Pirates midfielder who recently joined Mamelodi Sundowns, and Natasha Thahane, the South African actress known for her roles in Skeem Saam and The Queen, have been the subject of romance rumors since 2021 when they were spotted vacationing together in Zanzibar.
The pair, however, never admitted to being in a relationship, despite dropping hints on social media and welcoming a child together in March 20220 Lorch even denied dating Thahane during an Instagram live session with DJ Maphorisa in 2021, saying he was single.
Thahane also kept her personal life private, only sharing photos of herself wearing a traditional Xhosa outfit that suggested she was married. She also posted pictures of her baby bump and her son but never revealed the identity of the father.
Who is Thembinkosi Lorch?
Thembinkosi Lorch is a South African professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns and the South African national team. He was born on July 22, 1993, in Bloemfontein, Free State. He began his football career at Maluti FET College, before joining Orlando Pirates in 2015.
He was loaned out to Chippa United and Cape Town City, before returning to Pirates in 2017. He won the PSL Footballer of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards in 2019, after scoring 15 goals and providing 10 assists in all competitions.
He also represented South Africa at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored the winning goal against Egypt in the round of 16. He joined Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2024, in a transfer deal worth R15 million.
Who is Natasha Thahane?
Natasha Thahane is a South African actress, model, and influencer who has appeared in several popular television shows and films. She was born on September 25, 1995, in Orlando West, Soweto. She is the granddaughter of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
She studied accounting at Wits University, before pursuing her passion for acting. She made her debut in the SABC 1 drama series Skeem Saam, playing the role of Enhle. She then starred in The Queen, playing the role of Amo Maake.
She also appeared in other shows such as Lockdown, Blood and Water, and The River. She has over 4 million followers on Instagram, where she posts pictures and videos of her lifestyle, fashion, and beauty. She also has a YouTube channel, where she shares her personal stories and opinions.
A Shocking Breakup
On Monday, February 19, 2024, Thahane surprised her fans by announcing her split from Lorch on her Instagram profile. She wrote:
“A brief update: Thembinkosi Lorch and I have mutually decided to part ways romantically. Despite the change in our relationship, we will remain friends and co-parents. I am looking forward to this new chapter of my life. #NewBeginnings”
She also shared a video clip of Rihanna’s 2009 interview with ABC, where the singer talked about her abusive relationship with Chris Brown and how she felt sorry for herself. The video raised eyebrows among Thahane’s followers, who wondered if Lorch was to blame for the breakup.
Breakup Announcement
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| Date of breakup announcement | February 19, 2024 |
| Platform of announcement | |
| Reason for breakup | Not specified, but hinted at domestic violence |
| Duration of relationship | Unknown, but speculated to be since 2021 |
| Status of relationship | Never officially confirmed, but implied by social media posts |
| Child involved | Yes, a son born in March 2022 |
| Reaction of fans | Mostly indifferent or supportive of Thahane |
| Instagram (Thembinkosi Lorch) | thembinkosi_lorch_3 |
| Instagram (Natasha Thahane) | natasha_thahane |
A Troubled Past
Lorch has a history of domestic violence, as he was found guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend, Fundiswa Mathithibala, in 2019. He was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five years, on condition that he did not commit a similar offense during that period.
He was also fined R100 000, which was donated to People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA), a non-profit organization that supports victims of gender-based violence. Lorch was also suspended from all Orlando Pirates activities for two months, until December 2023, following his conviction. He later moved to Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2024, in a deal worth R15 million.
A Public Reaction
The news of Thahane and Lorch’s breakup did not seem to affect their fans much, as many commented that they had more important issues to worry about. Some also suggested that Thahane was the one who ended things with Lorch and that she deserved better.
Thembinkosi Lorch and Natasha Thahane have decided to go their separate ways, after keeping their relationship a secret for a long time. The reason behind their breakup is not clear, but some fans suspect that Lorch’s past of domestic violence may have played a role. The couple have stated that they will remain friends and co-parents to their son, and that they are looking forward to new beginnings.
Content Source: wikipedia.org/Thembinkosi_Lorch
