Culture Craze
MaMkhize’s 363 Bottles Go Under the Hammer as SARS Targets R40 Million Tax Debt
When Champagne Dreams Meet Tax Reality
South Africans have watched Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize’s life unfold like a luxury catalogue come to life. From Rolls-Royces to rhinestone boots, the Durban businesswoman and reality star built a public image soaked in glamour. But in 2025, the bubbles have turned flat.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced another auction linked to MaMkhize’s tax troubles, this time featuring a striking 363 bottles of premium liquor. Among them are rare champagnes and designer-label spirits, the kind usually seen in VIP lounges, not government sales lists. The aim is to recover part of an estimated R40 million tax debt.
It’s the third SARS auction this year involving her assets. Earlier events stripped away fleets of luxury cars and designer handbags. Now, the high-end liquor collection, a symbol of success and celebration, is on the block.
From Toasts to Tenders
The collection, once proudly displayed in her mansion, reportedly includes Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon, Luc Belaire, and several boutique wines. For years, these bottles spoke of a woman who defied odds and embodied Black excellence in business. Today, they serve as collateral in a tax showdown.
SARS confirmed the auction will take place from 25 to 27 November, with bidding open to the public. A R20 000 refundable deposit is required to participate, and items will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
To her followers, it’s a startling reminder that no matter the Instagram filters or reality-show edits, financial compliance remains the great equaliser.
Public Reaction: Popcorn, Pride, and Protests
On social media, opinions have split faster than a shaken bottle of champagne. Many users say it’s time for accountability, pointing to long-reported unpaid tax amounts. Others insist MaMkhize is being unfairly targeted because of her visibility and status as a self-made Black woman in a male-dominated business world.
As one user posted, “She showed us that township girls can make it to Forbes lists. I hope this doesn’t destroy her legacy.”
The debate mirrors a broader South African tension: between celebrating visible success and questioning how it’s maintained.
The Bigger Picture
SARS’s enforcement streak has been clear in 2025, assertive, public, and increasingly symbolic. By auctioning off luxury items, the agency not only collects revenue but also reinforces a message: the law doesn’t discriminate by income bracket or celebrity status.
For MaMkhize, it’s another chapter in a year that’s tested both her brand and her business empire. Her public statements remain minimal, but her confident persona continues on social media, where she has posted photos and affirmations about resilience and divine timing.
More Than Just 363 Bottles
The auction may only chip away at the millions owed, yet the cultural impact is harder to quantify. To some, it’s a cautionary tale about fame outpacing financial foresight. To others, it’s proof that visibility carries its own form of taxation.
As those bottles go under the hammer later this year, they’ll represent more than luxury or loss. They’ll tell a South African story about ambition, accountability, and what happens when the bubbles burst.
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Source: Bona Magazine
Featured Image: Soccer Laduma
