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.
It is 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. The winner of each provincial division qualifies for the annual promotion playoffs, where the top two teams are promoted to the National First Division. In each province, teams are relegated to the fourth tier U21 SAB Regional League, which in return will promote 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 Premiership, 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.
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. The sponsorship was renewed for five years in 2018.
Provincial divisions
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.
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 TeamsSeasonInland StreamCoastal 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 StarsMamelodi Juventus William PrescodPE Technikon 2001–02 MaholosianePeoples Bank Spurs Moja UnitedJuventus (Western Cape) 2002–03 Winners Park FC Sporting Vasco da Gama Blackburn RoversPromoted TeamsSeasonWinnerRunner-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 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 Uthongathi Super Eagles 2017–18 Maccabi TS Sporting 2018–19 JDR Stars Steenberg United 2019–20 Bizana Pondo Chiefs Pretoria Callies 2020–21 Hungry Lions Platinum City Rovers 2021–22 MM Platinum Magesi 2022–23 Upington City Orbit College 2023–24 Highbury Kruger United 2024–25 Gomora United The Bees, Midlands Wanderers 2025–26 Hope FC / Sea Point Swifts North West University Soccer Institute
Provincial winners
Coastal Stream
Eastern Cape YearWinnerRunner-Up 1998–99Glenville 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 Tornado Lion City FC 2016–17 EC Bees FC Future Tigers 2017–18 Tornado EC Bees FC 2018–19 Tornado Mthatha Bucks 2019–20 Bizana Pondo Chiefs Spear of the NationSeasonStream AStream B 2020–21Spear of the NationBCM Stars 2021–22Spear of the NationBCM Stars 2022–23AmavararaPeace Makers FC YearWinnerRunner-Up 2023–24HighburySinenkani 2024–25FC RavensAmavarara 2025–26FC RavensOld Grey
Kwazulu Natal SeasonWinnerRunner-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 2014–15Maluti FET College 2015–16 Kings United FC Uthongathi FC 2016–17Uthongathi FCUmvoti 2017–18UmvotiMilford FC 2018–19Summerfield DynamosHappy Wanderers 2019–20UmvotiSummerfield DynamosSeasonStream AStream B 2020–21UmvotiReal Kings 2021–22Summerfield DynamosGWP Friends 2022–23Milford FCuMsinga United 2023–24Njampela FCuMsinga United 2024–25 Midland Wanderers Mkhambathi 2025–26 Mkhambathi Umvoti
Northern Cape SeasonWinnerRunner-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 SeasonStream AStream B 2015–16Morester JeugColville United 2016–17Mainstay UnitedMagareng Young Stars FC 2017–18 Hungry Lions Magareng Young Stars FC 2018–19 Hungry Lions United RoversSeasonWinnerRunner-Up 2019–20 Hungry Lions NC ProfessionalsSeasonSouth StreamWest Stream 2020–21 Hungry Lions NC ProfessionalsSeasonStream AStream B 2021–22 Upington City Real MadridSeasonWinnerRunner-Up 2022–23 Upington City Diamond City 2023–24 NC Professionals Saints FC 2024–25 Kakamas Juventus NC ProfessionalsKimberly Saints 2025–26 NC Professionals Jacksa Spears
Western Cape SeasonWinnerRunner-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 2013–14Cape Town All Stars 2014–15Glendene United 2015–16 Steenberg United Glendene United FC 2016–17 Zizwe United Steenberg United 2017–18 Steenberg United The Magic 2018–19 Steenberg United The Magic 2019–20 Zizwe United FN Rangers 2020–21 Glendene United Batalion FC 2021–22 Zizwe United FN Rangers 2022–23 Young Bafana Zizwe United 2023–24FN RangersClarewood 2024–25Zizwe UnitedHanover Park 2025–26Hope FCDiadora
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 SeasonWinnerRunner-Up 1998–99 1999–00City 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 Captain Morgan Academy 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 2016–17Mangaung Unite 2017–18 Tshiame All Stars Bloemfontein Young Tigers 2018–19 Mangaung Unite 2019–20 Mangaung Unite Super EaglesSeasonStream AStream B 2020–21Mangaung UniteD General FC 2021–22Dikwena United Bloemfontein Celtic Development 2022–23Buffalo FC FC Black Cross SeasonWinnerRunner-Up 2023–24D'General FCMangaung Unite 2024–25African WarriorsMangaung City 2025–26Mangaung Unite Mangaung City
Inland Stream
Gauteng SeasonWinnerRunner-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 JDR Stars AmaBEE 2016–17 Maccabi Orange Vaal Professionals 2017–18 Maccabi JDR Stars 2018–19 JDR Stars Baberwa 2019–20 Pretoria Callies Pele PeleSeasonStream AStream B 2020-21 African All Stars FC RESA 2021-22 African All Stars MM PlatinumSeasonWinnerRunner-Up 2022–23Dondol Stars Pele Pele 2023–24Dondol StarsHighlands Park 2024–25Gomora UnitedLa Masia 2025–26La MasiaFree Agents
Limpopo SeasonWinnerRunner-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 2016–17Unknown The Dolphins Bellevue Village Winners Park 2017–18 The Dolphins Boyne Tigers F.C. 2018–19 Mikhado FC Polokwane United 2019–20 Mikhado FC Magesi FCSeasonStream AStream B 2020–21The DolphinsMagesi FC 2021–22Mpheni Home Defenders Magesi FC 2022–23Mpheni Home Defenders The DolphinsSeasonWinnerRunner-Up 2023–24Mpheni Home Defenders Tzaneen United 2024–25Mpheni Home DefendersThe Dolphins 2025–26Mpheni Home DefendersCity Motors
Mpumalanga