Police spokesman Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela told the Star newspaper that Tshabalala was facing charges of assault, intimidation and sexual assault, and appeared in court on Thursday to answer to the assault charge.
“He appeared for the assault charge. The other charges will be added after the prosecutor has consulted the witnesses,” said Makhubela.
Makhubela said the charge was related to an incident that took place at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday during a soccer match between Moroka Swallows and Orlando Pirates.
Tshabalala had an argument with a woman seated behind him. Her boyfriend intervened and he allegedly assaulted the boyfriend, Makhubela told the Star.
“It is alleged that while they were fighting, Tshabalala touched the private parts of the woman.”
Tshabalala was arrested on Tuesday and released on a warning. He was instructed to appear in court on Thursday, according to the report.
The case was postponed to March 22.
In 1992, Tshabalala was suspended after he admitted assaulting a Sunday Times writer for a story that appeared in the newspaper with the headline “Stop screaming, start coaching!” according to the report.