Latest news with #eSwatini
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
‘I have lost my soul' – MaMkhize on losing Royal AM
The football club was recently auctioned along with some of MaMkhize's luxury vehicles. Shauwn Mkhize at the 2022 BET in Los Angeles, California. Picture:for BET Businesswoman and reality TV personality Shauwn 'MaMkhize' Mkhize has opened up about the emotional toll of losing her football club, Royal AM. The club, along with several of her luxury vehicles, was recently auctioned to settle a reported R37 million tax debt. Speaking to Andile Ncube on Metro FM this week, MaMkhize said she lost more than just money. 'I've lost my soul. I think my soul and my heart were invested in that brand. Money – put it aside. We work, we make money every day, but I've lost my soul. I think that was my baby.' She added that her greatest concern is for the many lives that depended on the club. 'Sometimes when you do something, you must look at the people and the lives of the people that you are affecting. There were people who depended on Royal AM. 'And what hurts me the most is not the money. It's about the families that I believe were affected by something that could have been controlled.' According to News24, Royal AM and 10 of MaMkhize's 14 luxury vehicles were sold at auction for R8.2 million. ALSO READ: Fur, football and forfeits: MaMkhize lives it up as netizens link her to the Mkhwanazi saga Fresh start: MaMkhize takes helm of eSwatini club MaMkhize was recently introduced as the new president of the Eswatini football club, Mbabane Highlanders AM. The flamboyant businesswoman has reportedly already rebranded the club, incorporating the gold colours of her former club, Royal AM, into the traditional black and white of the Highlanders. According to Sunday World, Mkhize did not purchase the club, as some reports have claimed, but has been appointed on a three-year contract to run the club. NOW READ: Nay Maps to host Simon Mabhunu Sabela Film and Television Awards this weekend
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
US deports ‘barbaric' migrants from Vietnam, Laos, other nations to Africa's eSwatini
The United States deported five migrants from Asian and Caribbean countries to the small African kingdom of eSwatini, officials said on Tuesday. Jamaica , Laos , The deported migrants are nationals of Cuba Vietnam and Yemen 'These criminal illegal aliens are so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back,' the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wrote on social media They were convicted of violent crimes such as child rape and murder, according to DHS. US President Donald Trump 's administration has defended so-called third-country deportations as necessary, since the home nations of some of those targeted for removal sometimes refuse to accept them. The US Supreme Court in June paved the way for the Trump administration to resume deportations of undocumented migrants to countries that are not their own. Washington deported eight other migrants to conflict-plagued South Sudan earlier this month.
The South African
6 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
'Passport is ready': Mama Joy to support MaMkhize's new club?
South Africa's most recognisable sports supporter, Mama Joy – real name Joy Chauke – has pledged her allegiance to MaMkhize's new soccer club, Mbalane Highlanders AM FC. This comes months after the businesswoman's South African team, Royal AM, for which Chauke was an unofficial ambassador, was expelled from the PSL. Over the weekend, MaMkhize confirmed that she had inked a three-year presidency deal with the eSwatini club. In a post on her X account, Mama Joy not only praised MaMkhize's new venture as Mbalane Highlanders AM FC president but also offered her support. She posted: 'Mbabane Highlanders Am FC, we are ready to cross the border to Eswatini. Passports are ready.' In another post, she shared about MaMkhize: 'Back with a bang'. Just a few months ago, Mama Joy – who branded herself as 'Royal AM's number one fan', shared an emotional post about the end of the road for the club. Posting a collage of pics of her supporting Thwili Thwala, she shared: 'It's over…thanks Ma for giving me an opportunity to be Royal Am superfan. You treated me with dignity, with love, like one of your family members. I enjoyed [it] and thank other Royal Am supporters for showing me love. Royal Am was my family.' Mama Joy went on to post that she now faced 'no home' in the PSL. In 2023, Mama Joy denied reports that she was on MaMkhize's payroll as a then Royal AM supporter. Speaking on Robert Marawa's Marawa Sports Worldwide , Chauke admitted she was friends with the businesswoman and often attended the PSL club games. Mama Joy and MaMkhizeImages via X: @joychauke5 When Robert bluntly asked if MaMkhize paid her for her unofficial ambassadorship, she responded: 'No. People are going to say, 'You chowed Mamkhize's money'. I don't know what to say! 'I'm a Royal AM supporter, and she will follow me and check in on me. I don't get paid by her for what I do. I do it for the love of the game'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Will Andile Mpisane play for mom's new soccer club?
Andile Mpisane has fueled rumours he may advance his soccer career at eSwatini club, Mbalane Highlanders, which his mother, MaMkhize – real name Shauwn Mkhize – was recently named president of. The move comes months after the businesswoman's South African club, Royal AM, was expelled from the PSL amid her R40 million SARS tax evasion scandal. Although the club has adopted many elements of Royal AM, MaMkhize does not own the Swati counterpart. Over the weekend, MaMkhize confirmed that she was the new president of Mbalane Highlanders FC, which had been rebranded Mbalande Highlanders AM FC. The inclusion of the word 'AM' – Andilie Mpisane's initials – fuelled rumours that her son may be more than just a supporter of the football club. Andile and his wife Tamia accompanied MaMkhize to the club's announcement, with the former even cutting the ribbon to the 'new and improved' team. Andile Mpisane stoked the flames by reposting a clip of the announcement on his Instagram Story with his football catchphrase 'Expensive 10'. The number 10 was Andile's football jersey number at Royal AM, where he was both a player and a chairman. Rumours that Andile Mpisane may have a starring role in Mbalane Highlanders AM FC, possibly thanks to his mother, comes as no surprise. In 2023, MaMkhize defended her 'talented' son's soccer abilities. Speaking to Andile Ncube on his Metro FM show, Sports Night Amplified, the businesswoman insinuated that her luxury car-collecting son deserved a spot on the squad. Will former Royal AM chairman and player Andile Mpisane make a football comeback? Images via Instagram: @andilempisane10 MaMkhize also revealed that Andile had played for Amazulu during his development stage. She said: 'He wouldn't have entered AmaZulu if he didnt have talent. They only look for talent. 'He would have grown. Maybe he would have been an AmaZulu player'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
7 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Back in business! MaMkhize heads up new soccer club
Shauwn Mkhize – also known as MaMkhize – has officially been named the president of the eSwatini soccer club, Mbabane Highlanders. This comes months after her South African team, Royal AM, was seized by SARS to pay off her R40 million debt. The club was later expelled from the PSL. The millionaire businesswoman has come under fire over her numerous clashes with the law, including tax evasion, fraud, forgery, and bribery. In a press release, Mbabane Highlanders, now named Mbalane Highlanders AM, confirmed that MaMkhize had become the club's president. In a video clip, MaMkhize revealed that she had added a 'touch of gold' and her signature 'AM', and that players of the eSwatini club would now wear black and gold. She said in a special welcome ceremony on Saturday, 12 July, of her new club allegiance: 'Today marks a new chapter, not a takeover but a partnership. A merging of histories between Eswatini and South Africa, rooted in shared ambition and excellence. 'Together, we will raise the standard, grow our talent, and bring this club the success it deserves. 'My promise is simple: I will lead with integrity, vision and heart. We're not here to participate, we're here to elevate'. Although the club has adopted many elements of the her Royal AM club, MaMkhize does not own the Swati counterpart. According to Sunday World, the businesswoman was given a three-year contract to manage the club. MaMkhize's deal with Mabalane Highlighers comes months after the bosses of fellow eSwatini club Moneni Pirates laughed off claims that she was their potential new owner. The reality TV star made headlines when she attended the club's Ingwenyama Cup final against Royal Leopards in Apil. Speaking to FARPost , Moneni Pirates president Thulani Xaba stated that he was unaware of any deal on the table. He said: 'I haven't spoken to or met her. There's nothing that has been spoken from my end to me…. I think it's just more mileage for her socials'. Xaba also shadily responded to MaMkhize's criminal allegations and implied that she was who they would wanted representing the club. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
