Royal AM’s Premier Soccer League status is under severe threat as club owner Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize finds herself embroiled in deepening financial woes and growing speculation over her involvement with Eswatini’s Moneni Pirates.
The once high-flying South African club has plunged into crisis after the South African Revenue Service (SARS) froze MaMkhize’s assets in connection with outstanding tax debts reportedly nearing R40 million.
The sanctions have affected Royal AM’s operations directly, with players instructed not to report for training earlier this year.
A strike over unpaid wages soon followed in January, highlighting the escalating unrest within the squad.
Since their last competitive fixture — a December 2024 meeting with TS Galaxy — Royal AM have failed to make a single appearance in the Premier Soccer League.
The club sits at the foot of the table with a meagre tally of eight points from eleven matches, raising serious concerns about its ability to complete the current campaign.
Efforts to rescue the team have thus far proven unsuccessful.
Notably, a proposed takeover led by businessman Roy Moodley collapsed at the final stage.
The looming threat of expulsion from the PSL is now a very real possibility, with the league’s board set to convene on April 10 to make a definitive ruling on the club’s fate.
Meanwhile, MaMkhize has attracted further attention following her recent presence at the Ingwenyama Cup final in Eswatini.
She appeared publicly with Royal AM officials, all wearing Moneni Pirates colours.
The Eswatini Premier League side is undergoing its own period of transformation and has appointed Thulani Xaba as club president for the 2024/25 season.
The Pirates, who have not lifted silverware since winning the Eswatini Bank Cup in the 2014/15 campaign, are reportedly hopeful that this new association could signal a revival of fortunes.
MaMkhize’s visible support has only intensified speculation of a formal link, even as questions remain over her role.
Despite the unfolding drama, MaMkhize has not made any official statement about her long-term plans — either with Royal AM or Moneni Pirates.
However, with the PSL board set to determine the club’s future within days, time is running out for the flamboyant businesswoman to steer her South African venture away from disaster.
