New club, same drama: MaMkhize taken to court over Mbabane Highlanders ownership
New drama Former Mbabane Highlanders FC boss Bheki Simelane has challenged Durban businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize's ownership of the club. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
The ownership of Eswatini's Mbabane Highlanders AM FC has been thrown into dispute, with new owner Shauwn Mkhize facing a High Court challenge from former club boss Bheki Simelane.
Simelane has initiated legal action in the High Court of Eswatini, claiming he was unlawfully removed from his position and remains the club’s rightful owner, contradicting a claim from South African businessman Alfred Kgomongwe that ownership had been transferred to Mkhize.
On Tuesday, former Mbabane Highlanders Managing Director Mandla Shongwe confirmed the matter was now before the court.
“The club was unlawfully taken away from us. The club still belongs to us,” Shongwe said, as per KickOff.
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“We have a running contract up until the end of the 2025/26 season. MaMkhize promised to meet us and try to resolve the matter. That has not happened, and hence we have taken this matter to the High Court,” he said.
This is not the first time MaMkhize has been involved in controversy over the ownership of a football club. Her foray into Eswatini football comes after her previous club, Royal AM, were kicked out of the PSL due to a number of financial problems. The club was put up for auction by SARS in order to recoup R40 million she owed in taxes.
After an extensive bidding process, Durban businessman Roy Moodley appeared to have won the race to purchase the club, but after he could not come up with the funds, the sale collapsed, and the league decided to kick the club out.
IOL Sport