Who Is Shauwn Mkhize? 10 Interesting Things You Should Know About MaMkhize
Shauwn Mkhize, better known as MaMkhize, is a South African businesswoman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, television personality and socialite.
She has hogged the headlines in the 2021/22 DStv Premiership season after purchasing Bloemfontein Celtic, renaming the side Royal AM and relocating the club to KwaZulu-Natal.
Off the field of play, Mkhize is perhaps best known for her Mzansi Magic reality TV show, Kwa Mam’Mkhize.
And, of course, for celebrating Royal AM’s victories in extravagant fashion with flashy cars and cold, hard cash being splashed around!
Below, 10 things you perhaps didn’t know about Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize:
1. She was born and raised in the village of Umbumbulu in KwaZulu-Natal under of care of her mother, Florence Mkhize, who was an ANC veteran and anti-apartheid activist. She graduated with a Diploma in Accounting from what is today known as Durban University of Technology.
2. Mkhize married Sbu Mpisane in 1999, but the pair divorced in 2019. During their marriage they had a son, Andile. Mpisane had a daughter, Sbahle, at the time of their marriage.
3. In January 2020, Mkhize premiered her reality TV show, Kwa Mam’ Mkhize which aired on Mzansi Magic and featured her children and her family at large. The show was awarded Best Reality TV Show at the 2020 Hollywood American Prestigious Awards.
4. In 2020, she was introduced to social media and in under eight months had gained over 1 million followers on Instagram. Her followers have given her the title of “mother of the nation”. At the time of publishing Mkhize has over 1.7 million Instagram followers.
5. In October 2020 she was nominated for Socialite of the Year and Fag Hag of the Year at the Feather Awards.
6. To date, her philanthropic efforts have mainly been targeted at helping women and children in and around KwaZulu-Natal. The 2020 Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards recognised her efforts and strides in both business and philanthropy and awarded her the Woman of the Year award.
7. In March 2021, she made her debut on the SABC 1 soapie, Uzalo in the role of a mysterious, wealthy woman, who concludes the purchase of the Kwa Mashu Kingdom Church.
8. In April 2021, she collaborated with SABC 1’s Expressions and the Department of Correctional Services for labour to build 20 houses for the underprivileged with the help of prison inmates.
9. Mkhize has had several run-ins with the law during her career. She was accused of corruption and convicted of fraud and at one point reportedly owed the South African Revenue Service (SARS) over R200 million.
10. In mid-2021 Mkhize purchased PSL side Bloemfontein Celtic for a reported R50 million, renamed the side Royal AM and relocated the club to KwaZulu-Natal.