By Dylan Bettencourt
- Msunduzi Municipality cancelled R27-million Royal AM sponsorship deal after the club was thrown out of the PSL due to a R40-million SARS debt.
- MaMkhize is now talking about buying Mbabane Highlanders in Eswatini, with talks going well despite club politics threatening the deal.
Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize has lost her R27-million council sponsorship deal and is now looking for a new football club in Eswatini after Royal AM crashed.
The Msunduzi Municipality officially ended its controversial sponsorship deal with Royal AM on Wednesday, after months of legal fights and public anger.
The deal was called illegal by opposition parties, with the DA taking both the municipality and the club to court in October 2023.
ANC Chief Whip in Msunduzi, Sandile Dlamini, said the cancellation was discussed at Wednesday’s council meeting.
“One of the main terms of the contract was that Royal AM will be sponsored only if it stays in the PSL, so now that it is no longer there, we just end the contract,” said Dlamini.
Royal AM was kicked out of the Premier Soccer League after problems with the taxman and a R40-million debt to SARS.
The DA claimed victory, saying it would stop further waste of public money.
“We welcome this decision, which will prevent any further public funds from being wasted on this wrong arrangement,” the party said.
But MaMkhize isn’t giving up on football. She is reportedly talking about buying Mbabane Highlanders, one of Eswatini’s most successful clubs.
Reports say MaMkhize has already travelled to Eswatini and talked with the club’s leaders about taking over from current owner Bheki “Rubber” Simelane.
A source told Soccer Laduma that talks are going well and MaMkhize will likely close the deal if everything goes smoothly.
However, politics within the club could cause problems. Simelane still wants to run the club next season, which could decide whether the deal happens.
When asked for comment, Simelane confirmed the rumours but sounded disappointed. He said he had put a lot of money into the club and helped them avoid relegation last season.
Mbabane Highlanders is the most successful club in Eswatini, having won more national titles than any other team, despite not winning the league for 24 years since 2001.
Earlier reports linked MaMkhize with Moneni Pirates, another Eswatini club, but that club’s chairman said it wasn’t true.
Royal AM failed to get a takeover and fix its money problems, leading to being thrown out of the PSL. The team was under SARS control due to unpaid taxes linked to MaMkhize and her family trust.
MaMkhize tried to stop the PSL’s decision in court, but it was dismissed, sealing Royal AM’s fate.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court will still decide on the DA’s challenge to the council sponsorship deal.
Pictured above: MamKhize.
Image source: File
