Royal AM
By Sello Masilo
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has officially expelled Royal AM from its ranks, bringing an end to a chaotic saga that has rocked South African football. The decision, made on Thursday, 10 April 2025, saw the PSL’s Board of Governors (BoG) back a recommendation from the league’s executive committee (exco) to cancel Royal AM’s membership with immediate effect. The club’s expulsion follows months of financial turmoil and disrupted fixtures, with Royal AM managing to honour only 11 matches this season. The move has left the Betway Premiership in a state of flux, as the league scrambles to address the fallout from this unprecedented decision.
A Dramatic Fall from Grace
Royal AM’s troubles kicked off when its flamboyant owner, Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize, clashed with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) over a reported R40 million in unpaid taxes. This financial mess led to the club being placed under curatorship in November 2024, plunging it into chaos. Players and technical staff went unpaid, training sessions stopped, and the club couldn’t fulfil its Premiership and cup fixtures from late December 2024. The last time Royal AM played a competitive match was on 29 December 2024, when they lost 3-1 to TS Galaxy at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
The situation worsened last month when an attempt to auction the club collapsed. The curator had lined up a buyer, but the deal fell apart after the successful bidder missed a deadline to deposit the agreed amount into the bank. With no funds to keep the club afloat and no games played, the PSL’s patience ran out. The executive committee recommended expulsion last week, pointing to Royal AM’s failure to meet its obligations. On Thursday, an overwhelming majority of the BoG voted to kick the club out, ending a “long-running saga” that had “brought the league into disrepute and severely disrupted fixtures.”
Financial Chaos and Governance Woes
The root of Royal AM’s collapse lies in its owner’s tax troubles. Shauwn Mkhize, a well-known businesswoman and TV personality, reportedly owed SARS R40 million tied to her family trust. When SARS stepped in, the club was handed over to a curator to sort out the mess. But the financial strain proved too much. Players stopped showing up for training over unpaid wages, and the technical team followed suit. By January 2025, Royal AM was barely functioning, with no hope of getting back on the pitch.
The failed auction in March 2025 was the final nail in the coffin. The curator had hoped to offload the club to a new owner, rumoured to be a Durban-based businessman, but the bidder couldn’t come up with the cash. This left Royal AM stranded, unable to pay its debts or its people. The PSL also uncovered governance issues, accusing the club of bending the rules in its membership renewal last year and mishandling share transfers, further justifying the expulsion.
A League Left Reeling
Royal AM’s exit has thrown the Betway Premiership into turmoil. With the club having played just 11 matches, those results will now be scrapped, shaking up the league table. Top teams like Mamelodi Sundowns, who beat Royal AM earlier this season, will lose points, while struggling sides like SuperSport United will feel the pinch after dropping a draw. The PSL hasn’t yet clarified what this means for relegation and promotion, leaving fans and clubs in the dark. “Details of what that means in the ramifications for relegation and promotion from the Betway Premiership have not been clarified yet,” a league insider admitted.
The fixture list, already a headache with postponed games, will need a major overhaul. The season, now down to 15 teams, might see changes to the relegation format—will two teams still go down, or just one? The uncertainty has sparked debate among supporters, with some calling for the PSL to rethink its rules to avoid such chaos in the future.
For Royal AM’s players and staff, the news is devastating. With the club gone, their contracts are void, leaving them jobless. The South African Football Players’ Union (SAFPU) has stepped in, promising to fight for unpaid salaries and help players find new teams. “If Royal are indeed expelled, the employees’ contracts will be nullified, leaving them destitute from an employment perspective,” a union spokesperson said. Some players are already being linked with moves to other PSL clubs, but the road ahead looks tough.
Voices from the Touchline
The football world has been buzzing with reactions. Some see the expulsion as a necessary clean-up, while others mourn the loss of a club that added spice to the league. “It’s just a matter of time before the strange and highly disruptive Royal AM saga is resolved,” a PSL official hinted before the vote. On social media, fans have been vocal under hashtags like #RoyalAMExpelled. “Finally, the PSL grows a spine,” one supporter posted. Another lamented, “Sad day for football. Royal AM deserved better.”
In KwaZulu-Natal, where Royal AM was based, local leaders expressed dismay. The province’s premier called it a “blow to football in the region” but urged calm. Meanwhile, the club’s small but loyal fanbase has pointed fingers at Shauwn Mkhize, blaming her lavish spending and tax troubles for the collapse. “She cared more about her image than the team,” one fan grumbled online.
From Rags to Riches to Ruin
Royal AM’s story is one of wild highs and crushing lows. The club stormed into the PSL in 2021 after buying Bloemfontein Celtic’s status for R50 million. Under Mkhize’s leadership, they made waves, finishing third in their first season and reaching the Nedbank Cup final in 2022. Known for their flashy style—both on and off the pitch—Royal AM became a fan favourite for some and a target for others.
But the cracks appeared early. In 2023, FIFA hit the club with a transfer ban over unpaid wages to a former player, a sign of deeper financial woes. The SARS takeover in 2024 turned those cracks into a chasm, and Mkhize’s attempts to save the club fell short. Once a symbol of ambition, Royal AM is now a cautionary tale of how fast things can fall apart
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