PSL RED CARDS MaMkhize's Royal AM from Nedbank Cup as SARS demands R40 million

Johannesburg – The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has officially expelled Shauwn "Mam'Mkhize" Mkhize's club, Royal AM, from this season's Nedbank Cup competition, marking a significant development in the ongoing financial turmoil surrounding the KwaZulu-Natal team.

Royal AM FC, affectionately known as Thwihli Thwahla, has been unable to participate in any matches this year after being placed under curatorship by the South African Revenue Service (Sars). This action stems from a staggering R40 million outstanding tax debt owed by the club's owner, Mam'Mkhize, a prominent businesswoman and reality television personality.

On Tuesday, 25 February, the PSL released a media statement confirming Royal AM's exclusion from the Nedbank Cup, a decision made to ensure the competition's last 16 fixtures can proceed without further disruption.

“The NSL Executive Committee convened on Monday, 24 February, to consider further representations from the curator and management of Royal AM Football Club," the statement read. "Having reviewed these representations, the Executive Committee, in concurrence with Royal AM and the curator, resolved that Royal AM Football Club will take no further part in the Nedbank Cup competition this season, in the interest of time.”

The statement also clarified the rescheduling of a previously postponed fixture. The Nedbank Cup fixture number 21 between Milford FC and Sekhukhune United FC is now scheduled for 3pm on Sunday, 2 March, at Princess Magogo Stadium. This match had been delayed due to Royal AM's failure to fulfil their Nedbank last 32 game against Sekhukhune.

Mam'Mkhize's troubles began last year when the KZN Local Division of the High Court granted a preservation order and a search-and-seizure warrant in a case involving the Commissioner of Sars versus Mam'Mkhize and others. This legal action paved the way for Royal AM to be placed under curatorship.

A recent court verdict has further compounded the club's woes, indicating that Royal AM must now be sold to settle the substantial tax debt owed to Sars. This potential sale raises serious questions about the future of the club and its players.

The club's inability to fulfil its scheduled matches led the PSL to suspend all Royal AM fixtures in January, leaving fans and players in limbo. The suspension highlighted the severity of the financial crisis engulfing the club.

At the time of reporting, Mam'Mkhize was unavailable for comment on the PSL's decision and the ongoing situation surrounding Royal AM.

The expulsion from the Nedbank Cup and the potential sale of the club represent a dramatic fall from grace for Royal AM, which had enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent years under Mam'Mkhize's ownership. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the importance of financial responsibility and compliance with tax regulations in professional sports. The future of Royal AM remains uncertain as the club grapples with its mounting financial difficulties and the prospect of new ownership.