Football league season
The 2023–24 SAFA Second Division (known as the ABC Motsepe League for sponsorship reasons)[ 1] SAFA Second Division , the third tier for South African association football clubs, since its establishment in 1998. Due to the size of South Africa, the competition was split into nine divisions, one for each region. After the league stage of the regional competition is completed, the nine winning teams of each regional division entered the playoffs.[ 2]
Highbury F.C. from the Eastern Cape, and Kruger United from Mpumalanga qualified for the final, with both earning promotion to the 2024–25 National First Division .
Highbury F.C. defeated Kruger United 2-0 in the final, with Highbury taking R1.2 million in prize money, and Kruger United R600,000.[ 3]
The competition is administered by the South African Football Association .[ 4]
In January 2024, a game in the Limpopo A stream between Madridtas FC and Vondwe XI Bullets in Tshifudi outside Thohoyandou resulted in a referee being attacked.[ 5]
In May 2024, three officials were suspended for soliciting bribes.[ 6]
Regions
Eastern Cape
Newly promoted teams:[ 7]
Stream A
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Sinenkani
16
14
2
0
47
11
+36
44
Playoffs
2
FC Ravens
16
13
3
0
40
7
+33
42
3
Amavarara
16
9
1
6
30
22
+8
28
4
FC Buffalo City Relatives
16
5
3
8
22
32
−10
18
5
Peace Makers FC
16
4
4
8
17
28
−11
16
6
Bush Bucks
16
3
5
8
15
28
−13
14
7
Young Challengers FC
16
3
4
9
11
27
−16
13
8
Camdeboo Football Academy Development
16
3
4
9
17
40
−23
13
9
Hanley FC
16
2
6
8
15
19
−4
12
Stream B
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Highbury FC
16
13
2
1
44
9
+35
41
Playoffs
2
Matta Milan
16
9
1
6
24
14
+10
28
3
AmaMpondo United
16
7
4
5
19
16
+3
25
4
FC Siyanda
16
7
4
5
20
21
−1
25
5
Ayliff City FC
16
7
2
7
18
22
−4
23
6
Emi FC
16
4
5
7
18
23
−5
17
7
Amaxesibe FC
16
3
7
6
16
28
−12
16
8
Bush Pirates
16
3
5
8
12
21
−9
14
9
Seven Stars
16
3
2
11
13
30
−17
11
Free State
Newly promoted teams:[ 7]
Stream A
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
D General FC
18
11
6
1
39
20
+19
39
2
Bloemfontein Celtic
18
11
5
2
29
11
+18
38
3
Dikgosi FC
18
10
4
4
25
19
+6
34
4
Dikwena United
18
7
5
6
27
21
+6
26
5
Sibanye Golden Stars
18
7
3
8
22
25
−3
24
6
Super Eagles
18
7
2
9
21
20
+1
23
7
Central University of FS
18
6
3
9
28
29
−1
21
8
Peace Lovers
18
6
2
10
27
36
−9
20
9
Bloemfontein Young Tigers
18
5
3
10
20
33
−13
18
10
FC Matjhabeng
18
2
3
13
19
43
−24
9
Stream B
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Mangaung Unite
16
11
5
0
33
7
+26
38
Playoffs
2
Mathaithai
16
9
5
2
24
13
+11
32
3
Kovsies FC
16
7
6
3
17
9
+8
27
4
FC Spartans
16
6
5
5
17
13
+4
23
5
African Warriors
16
5
6
5
24
22
+2
21
6
Buffalo FC
16
4
6
6
17
20
−3
18
7
FC Blackcross
16
4
1
11
17
27
−10
13
8
Dynamos FC
16
3
3
10
13
37
−24
12
9
Ixias
16
2
5
9
14
28
−14
11
Gauteng
Newly promoted teams:[ 7]
The division was won by Dondol Stars for the second year in a row.[ 8]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Dondol Stars
34
24
5
5
69
23
+46
77
Playoffs
2
Highlands Park
34
21
8
5
47
16
+31
71
3
Pele Pele
34
19
10
5
54
31
+23
67
4
Jomo Cosmos
34
20
6
8
45
18
+27
66
5
African All Stars
34
20
6
8
54
31
+23
66
6
Tembisa Sports Centre
34
18
9
7
45
28
+17
63
7
Wits University
34
16
4
14
44
41
+3
52
8
Tembisa Hollywood Thunder
34
13
10
11
52
29
+23
49
9
M Tigers
34
12
13
9
47
36
+11
49
10
Dube Continental
34
13
8
13
49
47
+2
47
11
University of Johannesburg
34
12
7
15
43
38
+5
43
12
Soweto Super United
34
10
10
14
40
39
+1
40
13
JBM FC
34
10
7
17
38
54
−16
37
14
Thelray United
34
10
7
17
24
41
−17
37
15
Mike-1-Stars
34
10
7
17
40
61
−21
37
16
Sk FC
34
5
9
20
23
52
−29
24
17
Pretoria Ally's Tigers
34
3
6
25
27
77
−50
15
18
Senaoane Gunners
34
3
2
29
21
100
−79
11
Kwazulu-Natal
Newly promoted teams:[ 7]
Dlangezwa Hellenic
Swayimane United The KwaZulu-Natal provincial playoffs were won by Njampela FC, who defeated uMsinga United 1-0 after extra time. The game ended 0-0 in regulation time. Their coach, Tshepo Motsoeneng, will be making his sixth appearance at the national playoffs.[ 9]
Stream A
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Njampela FC
16
12
2
2
32
9
+23
38
Playoffs
2
Mkhumbane Classic
16
11
3
2
30
8
+22
36
3
Summerfield Dynamos
16
7
6
3
30
16
+14
27
4
Midland Wanderers
16
6
6
4
23
19
+4
24
5
Muzi King Masters
16
5
6
5
21
19
+2
21
6
Hellenic FC
16
4
4
8
13
25
−12
16
7
Asande FC
16
3
4
9
12
24
−12
13
8
Playoffs
16
2
6
8
12
28
−16
12
9
Stone Breakers
16
1
5
10
7
32
−25
8
Stream B
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Msinga United
18
13
4
1
29
7
+22
43
Playoffs
2
Mkhambathi FC
18
13
3
2
31
10
+21
42
3
FC Drakensberg
18
12
3
3
27
10
+17
39
4
Umvoti FC
18
9
5
4
29
14
+15
32
5
Remax Address Friends
18
6
3
9
22
25
−3
21
6
Chess FC
18
6
1
11
19
25
−6
19
7
Newcastle All Stars
18
5
4
9
16
23
−7
19
8
Ethekwini Coastal
18
5
4
9
14
29
−15
19
9
Swayimane United
18
4
1
13
16
39
−23
13
10
Titanic FC
18
1
4
13
17
38
−21
7
Limpopo
Newly promoted teams:[ 7]
Nkowankowa Continental
Sunrise FC
Stream A
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Mpheni Home Defenders
18
10
7
1
16
5
+11
37
Playoffs
2
Emmanuel FC
18
8
7
3
18
9
+9
31
3
Munaca FC
18
8
5
5
19
15
+4
29
4
United Artists
18
7
7
4
15
11
+4
28
5
Maruleng Celtic FC
18
8
3
7
18
15
+3
27
6
Vondwe XI Bullets
18
6
7
5
21
14
+7
25
7
Madritas FC
18
6
3
9
15
16
−1
21
8
Winners Park (Bellevue Village)
18
6
3
9
20
28
−8
21
9
Giyani Happy Boys
18
4
5
9
10
20
−10
17
10
Musina United
18
1
5
12
10
29
−19
8
Stream B
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Tzaneen United
18
14
3
1
35
11
+24
45
Playoffs
2
Ditlou F.C.
18
8
5
5
25
19
+6
29
3
City Motors FC
18
6
7
5
27
23
+4
25
4
Nkowankowa Continental
18
6
7
5
18
17
+1
25
5
Mighty F.C.
18
7
4
7
18
26
−8
25
6
Mokopane Pj Stars FC
18
7
3
8
19
22
−3
24
7
The Dolphins
18
5
7
6
15
13
+2
22
8
Tubatse United
18
6
3
9
21
22
−1
21
9
Sun Rise FC
18
6
1
11
18
29
−11
19
10
Eleven Fast Tigers
18
4
2
12
19
33
−14
14
Mpumalanga
Newly promoted teams:[ 7]
The franchise of Passion F.C. was purchased by Cunningmore B.[ 10]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Kruger United
28
17
8
3
42
14
+28
59
Playoffs
2
Ehlanzeni United FC
28
16
7
5
38
21
+17
55
3
Destiny College
28
13
10
5
33
19
+14
49
4
Phezulu FC
28
13
7
8
41
28
+13
46
5
Middelburg United
28
11
8
9
27
23
+4
41
6
Secunda M Stars
28
11
8
9
31
28
+3
41
7
Witbank City Lads
28
11
6
11
35
32
+3
39
8
Fernie Battalion FC
28
9
10
9
30
34
−4
37
9
FC Sivutsa NPC
28
8
10
10
32
31
+1
34
10
Mpumalanga Football Academy
28
10
3
15
31
35
−4
33
11
The Bees
28
8
9
11
29
33
−4
33
12
Sibange Young Bucks
28
8
7
13
32
43
−11
31
13
Phaphama FC
28
7
8
13
28
38
−10
29
14
Mpumalanga Future United FC
28
7
8
13
24
42
−18
29
15
Bakoena Chiefs
28
4
5
19
17
49
−32
17
North West
Newly promoted teams:[ 7]
Stream A
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Army Rockets FC
16
12
3
1
40
8
+32
39
Playoffs
2
Lerumo Lions
15
8
4
3
30
14
+16
28
3
Kgositlile FC
16
9
1
6
31
24
+7
28
4
Spain FC
15
8
2
5
21
13
+8
26
5
Thaba Tshwane FC
16
6
4
6
19
20
−1
22
6
TUT FC
16
5
5
6
25
25
0
20
7
NWU Tawana FC
16
4
3
9
19
30
−11
15
8
Black Eagles
16
3
2
11
19
29
−10
11
9
North West Super Stars FC
16
2
4
10
12
53
−41
10
Stream B
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Thames FC
16
11
3
2
41
18
+23
36
Playoffs
2
Mahika Champions
16
8
5
3
27
15
+12
29
3
Montshioa Swallows FC
16
8
5
3
30
23
+7
29
4
North West University
15
6
5
4
21
11
+10
23
5
Stilfontein Real Hearts
15
6
3
6
17
16
+1
21
6
NW Signal
16
5
4
7
20
22
−2
19
7
Indomitable Lions FC
16
5
3
8
25
27
−2
18
8
City Rovers FC
16
3
7
6
19
27
−8
16
9
Taung Mega Stars
16
1
1
14
16
57
−41
4
Northern Cape
Newly promoted teams:[ 7]
Stream A
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
NC Professionals
16
13
3
0
41
8
+33
42
Playoffs
2
Kakamas Juventus
16
10
5
1
33
18
+15
35
3
Olifantshoek Sporting
16
9
3
4
26
22
+4
30
4
Upington Tornado
16
6
3
7
27
25
+2
21
5
Benfica FC
16
5
4
7
22
24
−2
19
6
Kakamas Sundowns
16
4
4
8
18
22
−4
16
7
Olympics
16
4
4
8
26
32
−6
16
8
Amaeleven FC
16
3
3
10
25
38
−13
12
9
Olifantshoek Young Stars
16
2
3
11
20
49
−29
9
Stream B
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Saints FC
16
12
3
1
39
16
+23
39
Playoffs
2
Jacksa Spears
16
11
4
1
42
13
+29
37
3
Tsantshabane Stars FC
16
9
3
4
21
13
+8
30
4
Postmasburg FC
16
7
1
8
16
18
−2
22
5
United Rovers
16
5
3
8
30
34
−4
18
6
Diamond City
16
4
5
7
18
31
−13
17
7
Kuruman Scorpions
16
4
3
9
13
34
−21
15
8
Mighty Moovers
16
4
1
11
26
32
−6
13
9
Rasta Far Eagles
16
3
3
10
14
28
−14
12
Western Cape
Newly promoted teams:[ 7]
Junction Rovers
Oriented Birds
Stream A
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
FN Rangers
16
12
4
0
37
11
+26
40
Playoffs
2
Ikapa Sporting
16
9
3
4
27
21
+6
30
3
Hanover Park
16
8
5
3
36
22
+14
29
4
Santos
16
9
2
5
28
19
+9
29
5
Junction Rovers
16
6
3
7
32
35
−3
21
6
Ubuntu Football Club
16
6
2
8
44
32
+12
20
7
Young Bafana
16
5
1
10
21
34
−13
16
8
Royal Blues
16
3
3
10
17
40
−23
12
9
Ukhanya United
16
2
1
13
13
41
−28
7
Stream B
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Clarewood
16
11
3
2
31
15
+16
36
Playoffs
2
Grassy Park United
16
9
4
3
30
18
+12
31
3
Maties F.C.
16
9
1
6
22
22
0
28
4
Oriented Birds
16
6
5
5
29
28
+1
23
5
Hout Bay United
16
6
4
6
30
25
+5
22
6
Zizwe United
15
4
5
6
20
19
+1
17
7
Cape Town Spurs Youth
16
5
2
9
31
35
−4
17
8
City Kings
16
3
5
8
13
23
−10
14
9
Batalions FC
15
3
1
11
12
33
−21
10
The Western Cape playoffs were won by FN Rangers, who defeated Clarewood FC 2-0 in the final.[ 11]
Playoffs
Group A
Njampela FC (KwaZulu-Natal)
Mpheni Defenders (Limpopo)
FN Rangers (Western Cape)
Group B
Mangaung Unite (Free State)
Highbury FC (Eastern Cape)
Thames FC [North West]
Group C
NC Professionals (Northern Cape)
Kruger United (Mpumalanga)
Dondol Stars (Gauteng) [ 12]
Semi-finals
[ 13] [ 14]
Final
References
^ Laduma, Soccer. "SAFA and Motsepe Foundation renew ABC Mostepe League partnership" . Soccer Laduma . Retrieved 27 December 2023 . ^ "SAFA ABC Motsepe League" . SAFA.net . 25 March 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2021 .^ Raophala, Mauwane (23 June 2024). "Highbury FC crowned ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs champions" . FARPost . Retrieved 29 June 2024 . ^ "SAFA ABC Motsepe League - SAFA.net" . 25 March 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2024 .^ Munyai, Ofhani (15 January 2024). "Another match official manhandled in the ABC Motsepe League" . FARPost . Retrieved 25 January 2024 . ^ Munyai, Ofhani (13 May 2024). "Three SAFA match officials suspended for soliciting bribes" . FARPost . Retrieved 18 May 2024 . ^ a b c d e f g h i Raophala, Mauwane (22 August 2023). "Teams promoted to ABC Motsepe League" . FARPost . Retrieved 25 January 2024 . ^ Raophala, Mauwane (15 April 2024). "Dondol Stars crowned Gauteng ABC Motsepe League champions" . FARPost . Retrieved 26 April 2024 . ^ Raophala, Mauwane (29 April 2024). "Tshepo Motsoeneng off to ABC Motsepe national playoffs for the sixth time" . FARPost . Retrieved 1 May 2024 . ^ Raophala, Mauwane (22 July 2023). "Cunningmore B United secure ABC Motsepe League status" . FARPost . Retrieved 25 January 2024 . ^ Raophala, Mauwane (13 May 2024). "Thames, FN Rangers secure ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs berths" . FARPost . Retrieved 18 May 2024 . ^ Raophala, Mauwane (4 June 2024). "ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs draw confirmed" . FARPost . Retrieved 3 July 2024 . ^ Raophala, Mauwane (21 June 2024). "Two new Motsepe Foundation Championship clubs confirmed" . FARPost . Retrieved 3 July 2024 . ^ Raophala, Mauwane (20 June 2024). "ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs semi-finalists confirmed" . FARPost . Retrieved 3 July 2024 .