The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on the Msunduzi Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal to cancel its controversial R27 million sponsorship of Royal AM football club. The move comes as the club’s owner, Shauwn Mkhize, faces an investigation into alleged tax evasion, and the club itself has been placed under curatorship due to financial troubles.
DA councillor for Msunduzi, Reggie Khanyile, has strongly criticized the municipality’s ongoing support for the embattled football club. Khanyile argues that continuing to fund Royal AM, which is currently grappling with legal and financial issues, damages the municipality’s reputation. The DA’s stance was further solidified by the fact that the club’s Premier Soccer League matches have been postponed indefinitely due to its mounting financial difficulties, including its inability to pay staff and player salaries.
Khanyile has consistently opposed the sponsorship, highlighting that service delivery in the municipality remains poor. He believes the R27 million allocated to the football club could be better used to address pressing issues such as improving local infrastructure and investing in community sports facilities, which would benefit the residents of Msunduzi.
The DA’s call for the sponsorship’s termination highlights growing concerns over the allocation of public funds to private ventures that are embroiled in controversy. With Royal AM facing a future clouded by financial instability and legal issues, the DA is urging the municipality to reallocate these funds to initiatives that directly benefit the community.
