Thabo Matlaba accused of beating a woman
Image: NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 21: Thabo Matlaba of Pirates during the Absa Premiership match between Black Aces and Orlando Pirates at Mbombela Stadium on February 21, 2016 in Nelspuit, South Africa. (Photo by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images)Thabo Matlaba is being accused of assaulting a woman.
The incident reportedly occurred in November last year, but only came to light last week.
The Sunday World reports that the Orlando Pirates captain hit and kicked a woman named Naledi Shuping at Masingi’s tavern in Phomolong.
She opened a case of assault GBH against against him, but it was later struck off the roll.
The woman claims Thabo hit her in the face with his fists, and then kicked her on her upper body. The altercation allegedly happened after Thabo’s girlfriend started fighting with Naledi’s cousin.
A police spokesperson confirmed that Thabo was arrested on November 27 and appeared in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court the next day.
A lawyer for the defender confirmed that he was at the tavern with his friends on November 11.
“…there was an altercation but as to what happened, I really don’t know and therefore it would be difficult for me to comment,” Vusi Mahlangu of SV Mahlangu Attorneys told the Sunday World.
The National Prosecuting Authority has denied that the case was struck off the roll.
“This matter was only brought to court on Tuesday this week and the prosecutor told the investigating team to go deal with certain aspects of the case before he could decide whether or not to prosecute,” NPA South Gauteng spokeswoman Phindi Louw Mjonondwane was quoted as saying in the paper.
