GUILTY: MaMkhize’s Highlanders slapped with fine over match violence

Shauwn Mamkhize’s Mbabane Highlanders have officially been dumped out of the Ingwenyama Cup after being found guilty on all charges relating to the chaotic scenes witnessed at the Mavuso Sports Centre last month.

The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Disciplinary Committee delivered a swift and crushing verdict following the abandonment of their Round of 16 clash against Nsingizini Hotspurs as reported by Times of Eswatini.

The Verdict: Forfeiture and a Heavy Fine

Highlanders were found guilty of a series of “barbaric” infractions, including the assault of referee Celumusa Siphepho, a massive pitch invasion, and the throwing of missiles.

As a result of the ruling:

Tournament Exit: Highlanders have forfeited the match to Nsingizini Hotspurs, ending their cup ambitions.

Financial Penalty: The club has been ordered to pay a fine of E50,000.

Match Abandonment: The committee confirmed that the violent conduct of the supporters left officials with no choice but to call off the game prematurely.

The “MaMkhize Era” Under Fire

The ruling is a massive blow to the ambitious project led by South African businesswoman Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize, who took over the club in August 2025. This latest controversy follows a turbulent period for the president, whose previous club, Royal AM, collapsed in South Africa following a multi-million rand tax battle with SARS.

While Mandla Qhogi’s Nsingizini Hotspurs now advance to the quarter-finals, the “Landers” leadership is left to pick up the pieces of a fractured reputation. The club had previously issued a “deeply worried” apology, but the EFA’s heavy-handed sentence confirms that professional standards were catastrophically breached.

The E50,000 fine and the tournament disqualification serve as a stern warning to clubs in the Kingdom regarding supporter conduct and the safety of match officials.