Mbabane – South African businesswoman Shauwn “Mam’Mkhize” Mkhize has broken her silence after her recent takeover of Eswatini’s Mbabane Highlanders, issuing an apology to supporters of the defunct Bloemfontein Celtic Football Club.
Speaking on Metro FM on Tuesday, Ma’Mkhize reflected on her controversial entry into South African football and her latest move to the Kingdom. The interview followed months of headlines over her financial battles with the South African Revenue Service (SARS), which seized assets linked to her former club Royal AM FC.
Ma’Mkhize told radio host Andile Ncube she regretted the way she entered the South African Premier Soccer League, buying Celtic’s status and relocating the club to KwaZulu-Natal. “I didn’t come in through the front door, I broke the wall,” she said, admitting the saga left pain among the Bloemfontein supporters.
She insisted that her decision not to rename Mbabane Highlanders after taking ownership was deliberate. “I didn’t want to repeat the same mistake. That’s why I kept the Highlanders name and just added AM for Andile Mpisane,” she said, referring to her son.
The interview comes after Royal AM’s cars and assets were auctioned by SARS, following a preservation order granted by the KZN High Court in 2024. Mam’Mkhize questioned how the asset management process was handled, suggesting authorities lacked understanding of football operations. “In football, the only value is the status and the right to play. Now that the team is not playing, it’s worthless,” she said.
She confirmed an ongoing dispute with SARS, with conflicting figures about how much she allegedly owes. “Some say it’s R20 million, some R40 million, some R60 million. I don’t even know,” she said.
Despite losing Royal AM to tax authorities and facing multiple property seizures, Mam’Mkhize said her personal life remains stable. She recently acquired Mbabane Highlanders AM FC, marking her first foray into Eswatini football.
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