Businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize is accused by her former husband, Sibusiso Mpisane, of delaying their divorce settlement.
Image: Independent Media Archives
Former Durban Metro Police officer Sibusiso Mpisane returns to the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban on Monday in a renewed legal battle against his ex-wife, businesswoman and reality TV personality Shauwn Mkhize.
The court application, set down for April 13, 2026, seeks to vary aspects of the couple’s divorce order, which was granted on November 1, 2024, but has yet to be fully finalised—particularly regarding the division of their substantial joint estate.
According to court papers, Mpisane is asking the court to amend paragraph 2 of the divorce decree to include additional provisions, signalling ongoing disputes over the distribution of assets accumulated during their marriage in community of property.
The once high-profile couple, known for their opulent lifestyle and star-studded gatherings at their La Lucia mansion north of Durban, saw their relationship collapse after years in the public eye. Mkhize, popularly known for her feminised prefix surname MaMkhize, later rose to further prominence through her reality television show, which showcased her lavish lifestyle, high-end designer fashion collection, and fleet of luxury vehicles.
However, the unresolved divorce proceedings have now been complicated by mounting legal troubles involving the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
SARS has accused Mkhize of owing between R37 million and R40 million in unpaid taxes, a matter that has escalated into a broader legal and criminal investigation. Authorities have already secured court orders to raid several properties linked to Mkhize, including residences in La Lucia, Pietermaritzburg, and Sandton, as well as other assets across KwaZulu-Natal.
Last month, SARS officials, accompanied by police, conducted searches at multiple properties co-owned by the former couple. The move forms part of efforts to prevent the alleged dissipation or concealment of assets while the tax authority seeks to recover outstanding funds.
Shauwn Mkhize’s whose football interests have reached eSwatini where she took over ownership of Mbabane Highlanders FC and rebranded it Mbabane Highlanders AM FC, as her ex-husband Sibusiso Mpisane pushes for the finalisation of their divorce, while she faces mounting legal pressure from the South African Revenue Service over alleged tax evasion and unpaid taxes.
Image: BackpagePix
The financial strain has already seen high-value assets placed under scrutiny. Several luxury vehicles associated with Mkhize, her company, and Royal AM Football Club were earmarked for auction, including a Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 valued at approximately R4.5 million.
Last year, a rare Mercedes-Benz S680 Edition 100, one of only 100 units produced globally, estimated to exceed R5 million and 12 other vehicles linked to Mkhize and Royal AM were listed for auction, alongside other high-end assets, as part of enforcement seizures.
The tax dispute has also impacted Mkhize’s football interests. Royal AM FC, a club named after her son Andile Mpisane, has effectively slipped from her control, although she has since shifted her football ambitions to eSwatini, where she took over ownership Mbabane Highlanders FC, which has been renamed Mbabane Highlanders AM FC.
For Mpisane, the timing of SARS’s aggressive recovery strategy is critical. With the couple’s estate still undivided, the freezing and potential liquidation of assets could significantly affect what remains to be shared.
On April 1, 2026, Mkhize’s legal team argued in the Durban High Court that SARS’s urgent application to sell her properties should be struck off the roll due to a lack of urgency.
SARS approached the High Court seeking an order to sell the properties previously, citing concerns that the assets were deteriorating and losing value. Advocate Sinethemba Ndlovu, representing Mkhize and Mpisane, accused SARS of failing to adhere to the rules governing urgent applications, specifically, by not seeking an earlier date from the Judge President. Judgment has been reserved on SARS' urgent application.