Royal AM has been kicked out of the Nedbank Cup due to financial troubles, including a R40 million debt to the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
- Due to legal and financial challenges, including a tax dispute with SARS, the PSL has made the decision to expel Royal AM from the tournament
- As a result of Royal AM’s expulsion, Milford FC automatically progresses to the round of 16, where they will face Sekhukhune United
- Royal AM’s ongoing battle with SARS over a R40-million tax debt has placed the club under curatorship
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has officially released a statement confirming that Royal AM has been expelled from the Nedbank Cup, following ongoing legal and financial issues.
As a result, Milford FC has advanced past their round of 32 tie and will now face Sekhukhune United in the next round.
In response to the debt, SARS has put the club up for sale.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has suspended all of Royal AM’s fixtures.
- A court ruling has mandated the sale of Royal AM to settle a R40 million debt owed by owner Shauwn Mkhize
- The club is facing significant financial instability, with overdue wages and the threat of liquidation looming
- The Premier Soccer League has suspended all fixtures involving Royal AM, intensifying uncertainty around the club’s future.
The future of Royal AM Football Club has been thrown into disarray after a court ruling in Pietermaritzburg mandated that the club be sold to settle a crippling R40 million debt owed by its owner, Shauwn Mkhize.
The club, currently competing in the Betway Premiership, is facing severe financial instability after an extensive battle with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) over tax irregularities.
As the Royal AM saga reaches a dramatic climax, the famous quote by American statesman Benjamin Franklin, “Nothing is certain except death and taxes,” rings true.
All signs point to the end of the road for Royal AM under its flamboyant and controversial owner, Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize. Barring a miracle, which seems highly unlikely, she is set to lose ownership of the club as it prepares to change hands. SARS will recover the outstanding debts she owes — an outcome she cannot avoid.
However, while the odds are stacked against Mkhize, she won’t go down without a fight. Since purchasing the First Division franchise of Real Kings FC and renaming it Royal AM, she has challenged football authorities at every turn. After failing to secure automatic promotion to the Premiership, the club pursued multiple legal avenues but was ultimately unsuccessful.
Mkhize later had the last laugh when she acquired Bloemfontein Celtic’s franchise, securing Royal AM’s place in the Premiership. However, the club soon ran into trouble on multiple fronts. The PSL expelled Royal AM’s reserve team from the Diski League, suspended all their matches since December 2024, and Fifa banned them from registering new players.
SARS later placed the club under curatorship, ordering its sale to recover tax debts. While this case appears dead and buried, expect Mkhize to fight tooth and nail to save her club. She has already taken the PSL, SARS, and the appointed curator to court — albeit without success.
