MaMkhize approached Carte Blanche with a sit-down interview after her legal team served the show with an urgent application and threatened them with legal action, which was later withdrawn.
This comes after Carte Blanche investigated the Msunduzi municipality’s R27 million sponsorship of Royal AM, despite the town’s apparent dire financial standing. The KZN-based club signed a deal with the municipality, who pledged the staggering amount, in addition to the use of the Harry Gwala Stadium for free.
The Durban businesswoman and reality TV star sat down with Carte Blanche to unpack allegations, which she legally contested. MaMkhize, known for her flamboyant style, later withdrew the lawsuit just hours before the court case was to be heard at the Western Cape High Court after the show’s journalist found evidence of her fraud conviction in the 2000s. This led to Carte Blanche’s investigation and the heated exchange.
Carte Blanche highlighted the Royal AM owner’s run-ins with the law in 2005, 2011 and 2012 respectively, for charges that included but were not limited to tax evasion, fraud, and defeating the ends of justice.
When questioned about her political connections assisting in securing lucrative housing projects, she said: “I didn’t choose to be born in a political environment. Why can’t the world look at me as a young black woman, who has worked very hard, who has pushed boundaries, who has opened doors … “
During the interview, investigative journalist Jonathan Erasmus claims, “They secured almost every single major city housing contract from eThekwini Municipality during that time.”
On the pitch, Thwihli Thwahla are four from bottom of the DStv Premiership table with 29 points after 23 league fixtures. The relegation-threatened club is currently serving a FIFA ban and has only won three league matches since the turn of the year. Next up is a scheduled appointment with an Orlando Pirates team who currently sit third on the log.
Listen to the full interview here: