Future of Mam’Mkhize’s Royal AM uncertain!

IT seems when it rains it pours for businesswoman and reality TV star, Shauwn “Mam’Mkhize” Mkhize.

Mam’Mkhize is facing troubles with SARS and now, her Premier Soccer League team, Royal AM FC is about to lose its R27 million sponsorship from Msunduzi Municipality.

The municipality, located in Pietermaritzburg, KZN will decide the future of the team’s sponsorship on Wednesday, 29 January.

This after the DA in the municipality submitted a motion calling for the municipality to review and terminate the sponsorship.

The DA said the municipality can’t continue to support a business facing serious legal proceedings, including allegations of tax evasion.

The party said non-compliance with tax laws and deliberate tax evasion are criminal offences that should not be taken lightly by any municipal authority.

Mam’Mkhize’s problems started in 2024 after the KZN Local Division of the High Court granted a preservation order and search and seizure warrant in a case involving the SARS Commissioner versus Mam’Mkhize and others.

After that, her properties, including her mansion in La Lucia, north of Durban, were raided and her soccer team was placed under the curatorship of SARS.

The team is sponsored by Msunduzi Municipality as they use Harry Gwala Stadium, which is located in Pietermaritzburg as their home ground, while they stay on Mam’Mkhize’s farm in Pietermaritzburg and also use it as their camp.

DA Councillor in Msunduzi, Reggie Khanyile said maintaining a relationship with an entity under such scrutiny is damaging to the municipality’s reputation.

“Royal AM is already under curatorship, facing sequestration processes and unable to pay staff salaries. The club has breached contracts with former players, is facing sanctions from Fifa and risks being declared insolvent by the world football governing body. Continuing this sponsorship brings nothing but disrepute to the Msunduzi Municipality,” said Khanyile.

Manager in Msunduzi Municipality’s office of the speaker, Linda Madlala confirmed that the municipal speaker, Eunice Majola received the notice of motion.

“The notice of motion will be part of the agenda in our next council meeting on Wednesday,” he said.

On Wednesday, 22 January, PSL suspended Royal AM’s match which was scheduled to take place at Harry Gwala Stadium on Thursday, 23 January.

PSL also suspended all Royal AM fixtures until further notice as the team is facing difficulties under SARS curatorship.

Attempts to get Mam’Mkhize for comment were unsuccessful.