SAFA Second Division

The SAFA Second Division (known as the ABC Motsepe League for sponsorship reasons, and previously the Vodacom League between 1998 and 2012, was founded in 1998 as the overall third tier of South African football. The competition is regulated by SAFA, and until 2012 had been sponsored by mobile telecommunications company Vodacom.

ABC Motsepe League

Founded	1998; 27 years ago (1998)
Country	South Africa
Confederation	CAF
Divisions	9
Number of clubs	144
Level on pyramid	3
Promotion to	National First Division
Relegation to	SAFA Regional League
Domestic cup(s)	Nedbank Cup
Current champions	Highbury F.C.
Most championships	Roses United
Website	www.safa.net
Current: 2024–25 SAFA Second Division

It features 144 teams in total, divided into 9 divisions, borders decided by the 9 geo-political provinces of South Africa: Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu Natal, Northern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West. Each provincial division contains 16 teams. The winner of each provincial division qualifies for the annual promotional playoffs, where the winners of two streams are promoted to the National First Division. In each province, the two lowest-ranked teams by the end of the season, are relegated to the fourth tier U21 SAB Regional League, which in return will promote two playoff winners from the Regional Championships.

All clubs in South Africa also are allowed to compete with youth teams (U19/U21) and/or a reserve team in a lower SAFA league. If a club opt to field such teams, the U19 teams will start out at the fifth level in the U19 National League, while U21 teams or reserve teams will start out at the fourth level in the U21 SAB Regional League. If any U19 team win promotion for U21 SAB Regional League or SAFA Second Division, this promotion is fully accepted. No club are entitled to field two teams at the same level, and rule 4.6.4 of the SAFA regulations states that if the mother club play in the National First Division or Premier Soccer League, then the highest level these additional Youth/Reserve teams are allowed to compete will be the SAFA Second Division. In such cases, where a non-promotable team wins their regional division, the ticket for the promotional playoffs will instead be handed over to the second-best team in the division.^[1]

In March 2014, the Motsepe Foundation signed a five-year deal for the naming rights of the competition worth 40 million ZAR. Patrice Motsepe named the competition in honour of his late father, Augustine Butana Chaane Motsepe.^[2] The sponsorship was renewed for five years in 2018.^[3]

Provincial divisions

Map of the two streams in the SAFA Second Division.

  Inland Stream

  Coastal Stream

The 9 geographical provinces of South Africa, each have a local division in the SAFA Second Division. These divisions belong either to the Inland Stream or Coastal Stream, which are used to place the provincial winners into two round robin groups, at the promotional playoff stage by the end of the season. The Coastal Stream comprises: Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Western Cape; while the Inland Stream comprises: Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West. In previous years, until August 2008, the Free State province belonged to the Inland Stream.

Maladministration

In June 2023, Bush Bucks owner Sturu Pasiya accused SAFA of maladministration and of not paying grants for up to three years.^[4]

Champions and promoted teams

In the seasons from 1998 to 2003, the four best teams from the Vodacom League—determined by annual playoffs among the winners and runners-up of the 9 provinces in South Africa—won promotion for the National First Division. The playoff system divided the teams into an Inland Stream and Coastal Stream, where the best two teams from each stream won promotion.

In the seasons after 2003, the number of annually promoted teams decreased to 2. The concept of the playoff system, however, remained the same, in regards of dividing the teams into a Coastal Stream and Inland Stream, but now of course only to reward the winner of both streams with promotion. Both promoted teams will then finally also meet to play the overall final, where the overall league championship trophy is at stake.

The list below show all the promoted teams, since 1998.

Promoted Teams
Season	Inland Stream	Coastal Stream
1998–99	Arcadia Shepherds Mapate Silver Stars	Premier United Blackburn Rovers
1999–00	Ledwaba Power Stars Alexandra United	Maritzburg City Basotho Tigers
2000–01	Welkom Stars Mamelodi Juventus	William Prescod PE Technikon
2001–02	Maholosiane Peoples Bank Spurs	Moja United Juventus (Western Cape)
2002–03	Winners Park FC Sporting	Vasco da Gama Blackburn Rovers
Promoted Teams
Season	Winner	Runner-up
2003–04	Pretoria University	Louisvale Pirates
2004–05	Witbank Spurs	PJ Stars Kings
2005–06	OR Tambo DC	Garankuwa United
2006–07	African Warriors	Hanover Park
2007–08	Vasco da Gama	Carara Kicks
2008–09	United	Batau
2009–10	FC AK	Blackburn Rovers
2010–11	Chippa United	Sivutsa Stars
2011–12[5]	Roses United F.C.	Milano United F.C.
2012–13	Baroka	Maluti FET College
2013–14	Cape Town All Stars	Highlands Park
2014–15	Mbombela United	Mthatha Bucks
2015–16	Magesi F.C	Kings United
2016–17[6]	Uthongathi	Super Eagles
2017–18[7]	Maccabi	TS Sporting
2018–19	JDR Stars	Steenberg United
2019–20[8]	Bizana Pondo Chiefs	Pretoria Callies
2020–21[9]	Hungry Lions	Platinum City Rovers
2021–22[10]	MM Platinum	Magesi
2022–23[11]	Upington City	Orbit College
2023–24[12]	Highbury F.C.	Kruger United

Provincial winners

Coastal Stream

Eastern Cape Year Winner Runner-Up 1998–99 Glenville Celtic 1999–00 Blackburn Rovers 2000–01 PE Technikon PE Tigers 2001–02 Blackburn Rovers PE Tigers 2002–03 UPE-FCK Blackburn Rovers 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 Lion City 2007–08 Bush Bucks Matat Professionals F.C. 2008–09 Blackburn Rovers 2009–10 Blackburn Rovers Tornado 2010–11 Buffalo Tornado 2011–12 Tornado 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16[13] Tornado Lion City FC 2016–17[14] EC Bees FC Future Tigers 2017–18[15] Tornado EC Bees FC 2018–19[16] Tornado Mthatha Bucks 2019–20[17] Bizana Pondo Chiefs Spear of the Nation Season Stream A Stream B 2020–21[18][19] Spear of the Nation BCM Stars 2021–22[20][21] Spear of the Nation BCM Stars 2022–23[22] Amavarara Peace Makers FC Year Winner Runner-Up 2022–23[22] Highbury[23] Sinenkani[24] Kwazulu Natal Season Winner Runner-Up 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 Nathi Stars Leeds United 2001–02 Moja United Greenpoint Vultures 2002–03 Nathi Stars Italian Juventus 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 Abaqulusi 2007–08 Island Rangers 2008–09 Newcastle Sicilians 2009–10 Island African Wanderers 2010–11 Durban Stars Sobantu Shooting Stars 2011–12 Maritzburg City 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 Maluti FET College 2015–16 Kings United FC Uthongathi FC 2016–17[25] Uthongathi FC Umvoti 2017–18[26] Umvoti Milford FC 2018–19[27] Summerfield Dynamos Happy Wanderers 2019–20[28] Umvoti Summerfield Dynamos Season Stream A Stream B 2020–21[29][30] Umvoti Real Kings 2021–22[31][32] Summerfield Dynamos GWP Friends 2022–23[33] Milford FC uMsinga United 2023–24[34][35] Njampela FC uMsinga United

Northern Cape Season Winner Runner-Up 1998–99 1999–00 Glenville 2000–01 William Prescod Louisvale Pirates 2001–02 Young Pirates Louisvale Pirates 2002–03 Dalton Brothers Olympics 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 Kakamas Cosmos 2007–08 William Pescod F.C. Louisvale Pirates F.C. 2008–09 Real Madrid 2009–10 Kakamas Sundowns Wings United 2010–11 Real Madrid Steach United 2011–12 Morester Jeug 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 Season Stream A Stream B 2015–16 Morester Jeug[36] Colville United[37] 2016–17 Mainstay United[38] Magareng Young Stars FC[39] 2017–18 Hungry Lions[40] Magareng Young Stars FC [41] 2018–19 Hungry Lions[42] United Rovers[43] Season Winner Runner-Up 2019–20[44] Hungry Lions NC Professionals Season South Stream West Stream 2020-21[45] Hungry Lions NC Professionals Season Stream A Stream B 2021-22[46] Upington City Real Madrid Season Winner Runner-Up 2022-23[47] Upington City Diamond City 2023-24 NC Professionals[48][49] Saints FC [50] Western Cape Season Winner Runner-Up 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 Vasco da Gama Juventus 2001–02 Juventus Rygersdal Aces 2002–03 Vasco da Gama Clyde Pinelands 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 Hanover Park 2007–08 Soweto Panthers 2008–09 Steenberg United 2009–10 Mitchells Plain United Milano United 2010–11 Chippa United Milano United 2011–12 Milano United 2012–13 Cape Town All Stars 2013–14 Cape Town All Stars 2014–15 Glendene United 2015–16 Steenberg United Glendene United FC 2016–17[51] Zizwe United Steenberg United 2017–18[52] Steenberg United The Magic 2018–19[53] Steenberg United The Magic 2019–20[54] Zizwe United FN Rangers 2020–21[55] Glendene United Batalion FC 2021–22[56][57][58] Zizwe United FN Rangers 2022–23[59][60] Young Bafana Zizwe United 2023–24[61] FN Rangers Clarewood

Coastal Stream / Inland Stream

Free State belonged to the Inland Stream from 1998 to 2008, but was transferred to the Coastal Stream for subsequent seasons.

Free State

Season	Winner	Runner-Up
1998–99
1999–00	City Drifters
2000–01	Welkom Stars	Maholosiane
2001–02	Maholosiane	Roses United
2002–03	Phuthaditjhaba United	Dikoena
2003–04	Kroonstad Rovers
2004–05	Motheo United Warriors
2005–06	Black Mambas
2006–07	African Warriors
2007–08	Carara Kicks F.C.	Mafube United F.C.
2008–09	Crown City United
2009–10	Roses United	Maluti FET College
2010–11	Roses United	Botshabelo
2011–12	Roses United	Maluti FET College
2012–13	Maluti FET College
2013–14	Motheo Thaba Nchu	Bubchu United
2014–15	Kroonstad City	Super Eagles
2015–16	Super Eagles	Mangaung Unite
2016–17	Mangaung Unite
2017–18[62]	Tshiame All Stars	Bloemfontein Young Tigers
2018–19[63]	Mangaung Unite
2019–20[64]	Mangaung Unite	Super Eagles
Season	Stream A	Stream B
2020–21	Mangaung Unite[65]	D General FC[66]
2021–22	Dikwena United[67]	Bloemfontein Celtic Development[67]
2022–23[68]	Buffalo FC	FC Black Cross
Season	Winner	Runner-Up
2023–24[69][70]	Mangaung Unite	D General FC

Inland Stream

Gauteng Season Winner Runner-Up 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 Mamelodi Juventus Mandel Kings 2001–02 Ennerdale Arcadia BK Callies 2002–03 Arcadia Shepherds Luso Africa 2003–04 2004–05 P.J Stars 2005–06 Yebo Yes United 2006–07 Yebo Yes United 2007–08 M Tigers 2008–09 Lusitano 2009–10 FC AK M Tigers 2010–11 Highlands Park Blackpool 2011–12 The Vardos 2012–13 The Vardos 2013–14 Highlands Park 2014–15 African All Stars 2015–16[71] JDR Stars AmaBEE 2016–17[72] Maccabi Orange Vaal Professionals 2017–18[73] Maccabi JDR Stars 2018–19[74] JDR Stars Baberwa 2019–20[75] Pretoria Callies Pele Pele Season Stream A Stream B 2020-21[76][77] African All Stars FC RESA 2021-22[78][79] African All Stars MM Platinum Season Winner Runner-Up 2022–23[80] Dondol Stars Pele Pele 2023–24[81] Dondol Stars Highlands Park Limpopo Season Winner Runner-Up 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 Sisterpark Winnerspark 2001–02 Winnerspark Gesane Arsenal 2002–03 Winnerspark Gesane Arsenal 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 Mokopane 2007–08 Classic F.C. The Dolphins F.C. 2008–09 Peace Lovers 2009–10 Peace Lovers Limpopom United 2010–11 Baroka Winners Park 2011–12 Baroka 2012–13 Baroka 2013–14 Magezi F.C. 2014–15 Magezi F.C. 2015–16 Magezi F.C. The Dolphins 2016–17[82] The Dolphins Bellevue Village Winners Park 2017–18[83] The Dolphins Boyne Tigers F.C. 2018–19[84] Mikhado FC Polokwane United 2019–20[85] Mikhado FC Magesi FC Season Stream A Stream B 2020–21[86][87] The Dolphins Magesi FC 2021–22[88][89] Mpheni Home Defenders Magesi FC 2022–23[90] Mpheni Home Defenders The Dolphins Season Winner Runner-Up 2023–24[91][92] Mpheni Home Defenders Tzaneen United

Mpumalanga Season Winner Runner-Up 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 Green Nation Ferrometals 2001–02 People's Bank Spurs Sporting 2002–03 Sporting Home Defenders 2003–04 2004–05 Witbank Spurs 2005–06 2006–07 MP Black Aces 2007–08 Barberton City Stars F.C. Batau Killers F.C. 2008–09 Batau 2009–10 Mologadi Barberton City Stars 2010–11 Sivutsa Stars Mighty Mega Force 2011–12 Batau F.C. 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 Appolo XI FC Acornbush United 2016–17[93] Acornbush United TS Galaxy F.C. 2017–18[94] TS Sporting F.C. Mlambo Royal Cubs FC 2018–19[95] Acornbush United Tjakastad Junior Shepard 2019–20[96] Mpumalanga United Barberton City Stars Season Stream A Stream B 2020–21[97][98] Sivutsa Stars Witbank Shepard 2021–22[99][100] Secunda M Stars Sabie Bayern 2022–23[101] Secunda M Stars Mlambo Royal Cubs Season Winner Runner-Up 2023–24[102] Kruger United Ehlanzeni United North West Season Winner Runner-Up 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 Mafikeng City Western Aces 2001–02 Leicester City Western Aces 2002–03 Kanana Stars Anderlecht 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 Ga-Rankuwa United 2006–07 Madibogopan Blizzards 2007–08 City of Matlosane Mothupi Birds 2008–09 RNB 54 2009–10 Ga-Rankuwa United City of Matlosana United 2010–11 Ga-Rankuwa United North West Shining Stars 2011–12 Soshanguve Sunshine 2012–13 2013–14 North West Shining Stars 2014–15 North West Shining Stars 2015–16[103] Orbit College Polokwane City Rovers 2016–17[104] Buya Msuthu Polokwane City Rovers 2017–18[105] Buya Msuthu Polokwane City Rovers 2018–19[106] Casric Buya Msuthu 2019–20[107] Polokwane City Rovers Orbit College Season Stream A Stream B 2020–21[108][109] Ally's Tigers Platinum City Rovers 2021–22[110][111] Orbit College North West University 2022–23[112] Orbit College North West University Season Winner Runner-Up 2023–24 Thames FC [49] Army Rockets FC [113]