The adage when days are dark, friends are few, seems to ring true for socialite and businesswoman Shauwn "MaMkhize" Mkhize. This past weekend, her friend and fellow businesswoman Nomfundo Mcoyi, the founder of iCebolethu Funerals, celebrated her 50th birthday party in Cape Town minus MaMkhize. During her golden jubilee celebration, Mcoyi invited her circle of celebrity friends.

WHO’S WHO ATTENDED

The extravagant five-day party with different themes lacked a budget. Gospel heavyweights such as Ntokozo Mbambo and Dumi Mkokstad performed, while former Miss SA Bassie Kumalo, her sister Johanna Makgaleme, Minnie Dlamini, Somizi, and Carol Bouwer were among the celebrities invited to the party. MaMkhize’s absence was noticeably noticed. According to sources close to the situation, ever since the scandal when SARS raided the businesswoman’s home and took over her soccer club, Royal AM, people she thought were her friends allegedly turned their backs on her. "She has lost people she thought were her friends, but she is strong, and she will rise again, adds the source.

ROYAL AM TROUBLES WITH PSL

While the celebrations took the whole week, Mkhize was busy trying to put out the fires as the Premier Soccer League (PSL) suspended all matches involving her team, Royal AM. A source close to the source says MaMkhize doesn’t like going out to parties anymore because she doesn’t want to over-explain her situation. "She was strategically left out because of the bad publicity surrounding her. Mcoyi is trying to capture the celebrity market, and she feels MaMkhize is bad for her brand," added the source. MaMkhize could not be reached for comment, while PR specialist and Mcoyi’s birthday organizer Simpiwe Majola said she was invited, but she couldn’t make it. Royal AM is in trouble with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) for having an unpaid tax bill of R40 million. The latest in MaMkhize’s never-ending woes includes the payment of R15m she has to pay to former striker Samir Nurkovic and former defender Ricardo Nascimento, who is owed R600 000 by the team. Royal AM is under the hands of the SARS curator, and the PSL has not allowed them to play any matches until the tax woes. A league match against Orlando Pirates in Durban last week Thursday was postponed, and "Thwihli Thwahla" had their Nedbank Cup game against Milford FC also cancelled.