All eyes on MaMkhize: Construction mafia, SARS officer โhitโ, and more
Is the past finally catching up with businesswoman and โtenderpreneurโ MaMkhize? Hereโs why many think soโฆ
Controversial businesswoman Shauwn Mhize โ also known as MaMkhize โ has been thrust into the spotlight once again following aย damning reportย by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
And many South Africans are โconnecting the dotsโ about the flamboyant womanโs sketchy past, which includes bribery, corruption, and tax evasion.
Some are even calling out the reality TV star and former PSL club boss for being allegedly linked to the assassination attempt of a SARS official, who had been investigating her case.
MAMKHIZE IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SOUTH AFRICA PINPOINTS PAST COMMENTS
On Monday, 7 July, MaMkhize topped the X trends list after KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkwanazi and Police Portfolio Committee chairperson linked her relations to alleged corrupt businessman Vusimuzi โCatโ Matlala and Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, who has been accused of having ties to the underworld.
Hereโs a look behind the headlinesโฆ
โConstruction mafiaโ
In August last year, MaMkhize โ the CEO of the Zikhulise Group, which deals in the construction, cleaning, maintenance, and transport sectors โย confessed toย โcollaborating with construction mafiaโ.
Speaking to the SABC from a Women in Construction event in Durban, she said: โAs much as there are construction mafias, it is very important to collaborate. Iโve been in the industry for more than 20 years, with the construction mafia involved.
โBut what I do is I sit down [with them]. Itโs a cry for help. You need to understand what they need, and you collaborate. Iโve done it. Iโve built quite a lot of people that are coming from construction mafias, which I call business forumsโ.
She continued: โTheyโve never given me problems. We must look at them as enemies. We must listen, hear them out, and meet each other halfway. Thatโs how Iโve done itโ.
Hit on SARS official?
A year ago, MaMkhizeโs nameย trended in relation to an assassination attempt on a SARS advocateย assigned to a R37 million investigation into her companies.
In a statement, SARS revealed that Coreth Naudรฉ was shot three times in her car after she arrived at her hotel in Umhlanga, Durban.
Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said the shooting was a deliberate assassination attempt on their official, who had been investigating high-profile cases.
According toย EWN,ย this included MaMkhizeโs unpaid taxes saga.
THATย Carte Blancheย interview
A few months earlier, MaMhize appeared in anย interview withย Carte Blanche,ย which she later stormed out of.
The businesswoman was questioned about benefiting from over R1 billion in government tenders over a period of 20 years.
However, MaMkhize denied that any of her business had materialised from her political connections, particularly from her late mom, Florence Mkhize, an ANC stalwart.
She said, โWhy canโt people look at me as a young black woman who has worked very hard, who has pushed boundaries and opened doors?โ
She added: โI will never entertain the noise of the world. I live in my own world with my own rulesโ.
When asked why she had evaded tax amid a luxurious lifestyle, the 49-year-old seemingly became defensive.
โTax matters are personal. I donโt have to divulge what my problems wereโ.
CORRUPTION, FRAUD, AND BRIBERY CHARGES
Last year,ย MaMkhize was slapped with a R37 million tax bill relating to her business empire.
As a result, SARS filed a court application to seize 13 high-end vehicles owned by Shandi Trust and Royal AM football club,ย of which the reality TV star holds a majority stake. The cars have since been auctioned off.
The publication added that MaMkhize was also ordered to pay R12 million in her personal capacity to SARS.
MaMkhize has been linked to alleged ties with criminally accused Vusimusi Cat Matlala and Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu. Images via X
During a police raid of her La Lucia home last year, law enforcement uncovered a cache of licensed firearms and ammunition, allegedly belonging to tenderpreneur Vusi โCatโ Matlala.
In 2012,ย IOLย reported that MaMkhize faced 119 counts of tax fraud, amounting to up to R5 million, for submitting fake invoices. She later blamed the oversight on her bookkeeper, Kishal Reddy, who pleaded guilty while she pleaded not guilty.
According toย Mail & Guardian, she was also charged with corruption for allegedly trying to persuade a state witness in one of her tax fraud cases to tamper with evidence.
All charges were later withdrawn,ย and Shauwn walked out of the court as a free woman.
