Calls To Include Thembinkosi Lorch In Bafana Squad Spark Outrage Amid GBV Crisis

Thembinkosi Lorch’s recent performances for Wydad Casablanca have reignited debate around his possible return to the Bafana Bafana set-up.

But for many South Africans, the calls for his national team inclusion ignore a far more urgent issue: the country’s deepening Gender-Based Violence crisis.

Supporters, coaches, and pundits have praised Lorch’s form, urging head coach Hugo Broos to consider him for the Africa Cup of Nations and even next year’s World Cup qualifiers.

Yet critics argue that selecting him would send a damaging message at a time when South Africa is battling one of the world’s most severe GBV epidemics.

Women for Change’s G20 Women’s Shutdown on Friday highlights this grim reality. In South Africa, a woman is killed every 2.5 hours—an unthinkable statistic that underscores the need for consistent accountability from public figures and institutions.

South Africa’s GBV Statistics Show the Stakes

Between April 2020 and March 2024, the South African Police Service recorded 198,176 cases of women abused by someone in a domestic or intimate relationship.

A 2024 HSRC study found that one in three women have endured physical intimate partner violence in their lifetime. These figures reflect a national emergency—one that many argue cannot be separated from decisions involving high-profile national representatives.

Lorch’s own criminal record remains central to the backlash. In June 2023, he was found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He received a three-year prison sentence, suspended for five years, and was ordered to pay R100,000 to People Opposing Women Abuse.

Why Character Must Matter as Much as Form in Thembinkosi Lorch Case

For many South Africans, Lorch’s conviction makes his potential selection incompatible with what Bafana Bafana should represent.

“By definition, Lorch is an abuser,” activists point out, stressing that rewarding him with a national call-up would “be a betrayal to the women who have lost their lives, or have been abused by their partners.”

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Over 1000 Join Pretoria Protest Against GBVF, “Men That Violate Women Are Not Supposed To Live”

Critics warn that including him would also undermine national anti-GBV efforts.

In a country where women face constant threats of violence, sporting bodies—especially one as prominent as the national football team—carry the responsibility of reinforcing values of safety, dignity and accountability.

Form alone, they argue, cannot outweigh character. The choices made by Bafana Bafana carry symbolic weight, and selecting a player convicted of abuse risks sending the wrong message to millions of South African women.

---

For More, Follow SurgeZirc SA On  Facebook, X,  Instagram and Bluesky