MaMkhize Set To Take Over Pirates?

Amid Royal AM’s ongoing financial woes, the club owner Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize has sparked speculations on her next move within the football circle following her recent association with Eswatini Premier League outfit Moneni Pirates.
The Durban-born businesswoman has been embroiled in a financial scandal for months, with tax regulators South African Revenue Service (SARS) freezing her assets, including the football team, over alleged tax debt worth in the region of R40 million.
As a result, players were told to hold off on reporting to training as the club attempted to get out of the precarious situation. Furthermore, the Thwihli Thwahla stars were subjected to late payments, prompting a strike this year in January.
The KZN-based team has not played a Premier Soccer League (PSL) match in 2025, with their last match dating back to December 2024 in a 3-1 defeat to TS Galaxy in the Betway Premiership.
Additionally, Royal AM only honored 11 fixtures in the South African top-flight division this season.
Royal AM is currently rooted at the bottom of the Betway Premiership standings with eight points from one win, five defeats, and as many draws. Moreover, the team lost several of its players to other clubs due to the turmoil.
Valiant efforts were made to save the team as businessman Roy Moodley saw his deal to rescue the club collapse in the eleventh hour after failing to meet the deadline to pay the deposit required to accelerate the purchasing process.
Now, the side is facing a possible expulsion from the PSL ahead of a Board of Governors meeting on Thursday, 10 April, following the recommendation from the executive committee – a suggestion the BOG is expected to ratify.
Amidst the storm, MaMkhize, along with her son Andile Mpisane and other high-ranking officials from the club, were spotted at the Ingwenyama Cup final between Royal Leopards and Moneni Pirates at Somhlolo Stadium, dressed in the latter’s colors on Sunday afternoon in Swaziland.

Royal AM General Manager Richard Makhoba, spoke to Sportswire on Sunday morning saying that people must watch this space.

Pirates have recently appointed businessman Thulani Xaba as the club’s new president ahead of the 2024/25 season after a 12th-place finish in the league’s last campaign.

The Sea Robbers are currently in sixth place with 29 points accumulated after 18 matches.
The Eswatini team is in desperate need of a change in fortunes and silverware, with their last triumph coming in the 2014/15 season in the form of the Eswatini Bank Cup after defeating Manzini Wanderers 2-0 in the final.
It remains to be seen whether the story between MaMkhize and Pirates will grow legs.
4 Comments
When I saw Pirates I was worried,I had to read carefully.
Very well that it’s not the mighty Buccaneers what a relief.
I was shocked that she failed to maintain Royal Am n going to take over Orlando Pirates
I was very worried when I see the emblem asking myself why would Orlando pirates sell the status to someone who has been incompetent and unable to comply with the laws
Kukhona okungahambi kahle MaMkhize ngapha bamthatheli Club kuba ekolora SARS
Ngoku kuthiwa ufunu thengi Club eSwatini; njani ebehluleka ubhatali 40m kwa SARS