Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize Faces High Court Battle Over Mbabane Highlanders Ownership Dispute

• Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize is reportedly facing a new legal challenge over her involvement with an Eswatini football club
• Former club officials claim unresolved ownership issues and have taken the matter to the High Court of Eswatini
• The dispute comes amid a series of financial and legal controversies surrounding the Durban businesswoman

Durban businesswoman Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize is facing a fresh legal challenge in Eswatini, this time concerning her involvement with a Premier Soccer League club.

The dispute has emerged just weeks after Mkhize invested in Mbabane Highlanders AM FC, one of Eswatini’s prominent football sides.

Former club officials have raised questions about the legitimacy of her ownership, suggesting there may be unresolved issues surrounding the club’s leadership.

Bheki Simelane, who previously owned the club, has reportedly approached the High Court of Eswatini claiming that he remains the rightful owner and was removed from his position unlawfully.

Meanwhile, Mkhize’s representatives maintain that the club’s ownership was formally transferred to her through the proper channels.

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Managing Director of Mbabane Highlanders, Mandla Shongwe, confirmed the matter is now before the courts, saying negotiations to resolve the situation had broken down.

“We had an agreement in place until the end of the 2025/26 season. MaMkhize promised to meet us to resolve the matter, but that has not happened, hence the legal action,” he explained.

This latest court case adds to a string of recent controversies for Mkhize. She is still dealing with outstanding tax obligations related to her former club, Royal AM, including a R40 million dispute with SARS.

Additionally, the Pietermaritzburg High Court recently ordered her to repay R27 million linked to a sponsorship deal with the Msunduzi Municipality, which was ruled unlawful.

Further complications for Mkhize arose when she reportedly missed the deadline to register herself as Mbabane Highlanders’ official owner with the Eswatini Premier Soccer League, raising questions about the legal validity of her position.

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According to a report by Soccer Laduma, MaMkhize missed the deadline to register herself as the new owner of the Eswatini Premier Soccer League club.

Speaking to the publication, Eswatini Premier Soccer League CEO Pat Vilakati shared that Shauwn Mkhize had until Monday, 21 July 2025, to register herself as the new owner of Mbabane Highlanders, but she missed the deadline.

"Yes, for now, the club’s ownership and name remain unchanged,” Vilakati told the publication.

The handover papers between the expected new owner, Shauwn Mkhize, and former director Bheki Simelane were meant to be signed to complete the registration, but this did not occur, with the deadline having passed on Monday, 21 July,” Vilakati added.

As the case unfolds in Eswatini, it adds another chapter to a controversial period for the Durban businesswoman, whose football ventures have repeatedly attracted scrutiny.

What caused Royal AM's collapse?

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MaMkhize explained what led to Royal AM's collapse.

Briefly News reported that Shauwn Mkhize explained how a family trust linked to her dragged the club into financial turmoil.

In an interview with Andile Ncube, MaMkhize clarified what led to the SARS placing Royal AM under curatorship over an outstanding R40-million tax debt.

Source: Briefly News