The reason for the sudden split between Mbabane Highlanders Patrons has been revealed.
It has been gathered that a faction of the patrons want South African businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize, popularly known as Mamkhize to take over the country’s most successful club while the other faction is standing firm that team legend and incumbent Managing Director Bheki ‘Rubber’ Simelane must continue.
As a result, the patrons will hold a crucial meeting over the management of the team tomorrow.
“It seems some members of the patrons have agreed something with Mamkhize while they have a running 18-month contract with Simelane that was only signed in April. The Mamkhize name has been mentioned once again and it is not the first time it has come up in some of the patrons’ meetings,” said our well-placed source.
Mamkhize is no stranger to football administration as she previously owned Royal AM in the Betway Premiership in South Africa. Royal AM was kicked out of the PSL last season after encountering financial difficulties fuelled by Mamkhize’s case with the South African Revenue Services over unpaid tax.
Not very long ago, she was a spectator in the Premier League of Eswatini, mainly watching Moneni Pirates games.
Meanwhile, Simelane, through his legal representatives Dlamini Kunene Associates, has issued a formal demand for E1 million in compensation following what he claims is an unlawful termination of his management contract by the patrons.
A faction of the patrons came out to disassociate themselves from the termination, saying it did not represent a collective decision by the board.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the Highlanders Patrons, Simelane’s lawyers argue that the early dismissal of their client constitutes a breach of a management agreement signed on April11, 2025 and warn of potential legal action should their demands be ignored.
The letter responds to correspondence dated June 12, 2025, in which the Highlanders’ Board of Patrons informed Simelane of the termination of his contract.
The lawyers contend that the termination was not only premature but also procedurally flawed as Simelane was neither afforded a hearing nor provided with just cause.
“It was the express term of the agreement that our client shall be the sole director with full authority without interference from anyone in the administrative, technical, financial management, and all activities of the club,” the lawyers wrote.
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