MaMkhize Plans to Challenge Membership Termination Decision
Shauwn Mkhize, the owner of Royal AM, is gearing up to make a last-minute appeal aimed at preventing the PSL from terminating the club’s membership, as reported by Sportswire.
However, the exact legal avenues available to her remain somewhat ambiguous, given that the PSL’s decision to revoke the membership was executed under its own regulations, bypassing the PSL Disciplinary Committee.
“MaMkhize held a meeting with the players on Wednesday to discuss the dismissal of the PSL membership,” an unnamed player shared with Sportswire. “She informed us of her intention to appeal the decision within five days. We’ve been told that we are scheduled to play next week.”
Another official from the club corroborated this, informing Sportswire that they anticipate competing next week and cautioned against underestimating MaMkhize’s resolve.
On Wednesday, the PSL declared that the club’s membership is set to be terminated during the Board of Governors (BOG) meeting next Thursday at the Sandton Convention Centre. The PSL cites its NSL regulations, highlighting Royal AM’s failure to fulfill its league obligations.
The club, which has yet to participate in any matches in 2025, has 19 games remaining on the schedule.
This predicament stems from curator Jaco Venter, appointed by the South African Revenue Service (SARS), being unable to secure a buyer for the club. A prospective sale to Durban businessman Roy Moodlely fell through after he failed to meet the deposit deadline.
As a result, the curator notified the PSL that the essential funds had not been received, causing SARS to lose the opportunity to recover outstanding taxes through the club’s sale.
Royal AM’s financial troubles began in November when SARS seized Mkhize’s assets over alleged unpaid taxes amounting to nearly R40 million.
This asset seizure and account freezing hindered the club’s capacity to pay player salaries, with December wages only being issued in January.
Consequently, the PSL suspended its monthly grant payments to the club, with Betway, the main sponsor, experiencing diminished brand visibility. Royal AM was subsequently excluded from the Nedbank Cup round of 32 and saw its league matches indefinitely postponed.
The team’s last match took place on December 29, where they were defeated 3-1 by TS Galaxy. Currently, they sit at the bottom of the Betway Premiership standings, having garnered eight points from 11 matches.
The revocation of their PSL membership effectively results in relegation for the KwaZulu-Natal club. However, in contrast to standard relegation circumstances, Royal AM will not have the chance to compete in the Motsepe Foundation Championship next season due to the loss of their PSL membership.