BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE – In a rare and soul-baring conversation with legendary broadcaster Robert Marawa, Mbabane Highlanders AM FC President Shauwn Mkhize, affectionately known as MaMkhize, pulled back the curtain on her remarkable journey, laying bare the triumphs, tribulations and tenacity that have shaped her path.
Broadcast live on 947, the interview was anything but scripted. In true MaMkhize fashion, she addressed rumours, relationships, resilience and, above all, reinvention, with the fearless grace of a woman who is writing her story on a blank canvas.
Beyond the Headlines: A Woman of Many Layers
When asked about the most outrageous lie ever told about her, she chuckled and said, “That I know Vusi Cat Matlala. I’ve never met that man.” Calm and composed, MaMkhize dismantled misconceptions with clarity, especially on recent allegations about assets and associations.
“I don’t have a job. I don’t have bank accounts,” she revealed, before quipping about a mysterious new “father or husband” figure who oversees her funds. “I have to request, beg, and clap my hands to use my own money.”
Yet, for all the mystery, one truth rang clear: MaMkhize’s journey is her own, and she’s navigating it unapologetically.
From Royal AM to football Influence in Eswatini
For football fans across Eswatini and South Africa, the name MaMkhize is synonymous with ambition and disruption. As the president of Mbabane Highlanders AM FC, she’s now imprinting her legacy in Eswatini.
“I didn’t come to football because I love football. I came because I was supporting my son,” she confessed. “But unfortunately, I got addicted to it.”
Her decision to expand her football story across borders is both bold and symbolic. “Why not continue writing the story in another country?” she asked. “There’s so much you can write on a blank canvas.”
And indeed, she is painting that canvas with passion, from Royal AM’s highs and legal hurdles to the revival of Mbabane Highlanders. Her presence in Eswatini is not just a football move; it’s a cultural and economic investment.
Royal AM, Siwelele and That Rejected Offer
MaMkhize took time to clarify the swirling narratives around Royal AM and its supposed takeover by the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
“The court said the curator must preserve the asset. Not to hold it for anyone,” she explained. “SARS hasn’t taken over Royal AM. That’s not the truth.”
She also confirmed that an offer to buy Royal AM was made by Siwelele, linked to the son of Bloemfontein Celtics’ founder, but it was rejected. “I didn’t reject it. My father did,” she said, highlighting again the complexities behind her financial arrangements.
Still, she held no grudges. In fact, she extended an apology to Bloemfontein Celtics fans for their pain. “They were just caught in a crossfire. I’m sorry.”
The Power of Reinvention
What made this interview extraordinary was MaMkhize’s raw honesty. She wasn’t selling an image; she was presenting her truth.
“What I would like to address, that I’ve never said before,” she said poignantly, “is that I so wish people can understand that I’m human.”
And that, perhaps, is the heart of her story: not just a businesswoman or a football executive, but a human being finding her way in a world quick to judge.
A New Chapter in Eswatini
Her move to Eswatini signals more than just geographical change, it represents growth, healing, and evolution. Mbabane Highlanders AM FC is not merely a club; it’s the next chapter in a compelling story of resilience and reinvention.
And with MaMkhize at the helm, one thing is certain: the story is far from over.
