The 2025–26 SAFA Second Division (known as the ABC Motsepe League for sponsorship reasons) is the 28th season of the 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 will enter the playoffs.
The competition is administered by the South African Football Association.
Due the expulsion of Premiership team Royal AM, three teams were promoted from the previous season rather than the usual two. The start of the season was again affected by legal challenges following the decision to conclude the previous season's playoffs with only seven teams, after the exclusion of the Eastern Cape and Limpopo representatives.
Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape Coastal Stream
Eastern Cape Inland Stream
Eastern Cape final
Free State
In March 2026, Mathaithai pulled out of the league, citing SAFA's failure to pay five years worth of grants, and lack of sponsorship.
Gauteng
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KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal Stream A
KwaZulu-Natal Stream B
KwaZulu-Natal final
Limpopo In March, the game between Ngwaabe City Motors and Eleven Fast Tiger was abandoned after a penalty was awarded to Ngwaabe. Tigers felt that the decision was unfair, and that they had had two clear penalties denied, and left the pitch in protest.
Limpopo Stream A
Limpopo Stream B
Limpopo final
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga Stream A </onlyinclude>
Mpumalanga Stream B </onlyinclude>
Mpumalanga final
Northern Cape Northern Cape Stream A
Northern Cape Stream B
Northern Cape final
North West
North West Stream A
North West Stream B
North West final
Western Cape Prior to the start of the season, in November 2025, Santos were expelled from the league. This came after SAFA had excluded Santos from the Nedbank Cup over outstanding financial obligations. Santos had taken the matter to court, and SAFA were interdicted from going ahead with the Nedbank Cup fixture without Santos, and the matter referred to arbitration. SAFA then expelled Santos from the league. Santos appealed and won, and were reinstated in the league, expanding it to 25 teams.
During the campaign, Sea Point Swifts were renamed Hope FC.
Western Cape Stream A
Western Cape Stream B
Western Cape final
Promotion play-offs
Group A NWU Soccer Institute (North West) La Masia (Gauteng) Luthuli Brigades (Mpumalanga)
Results
Group B Hope FC / Sea Point Swifts (Western Cape) FC Ravens (Eastern Cape) Mangaung Unite (Free State)
Results
Group C NC Professionals (Northern Cape) Mpheni Defenders (Limpopo) Mkhambathi FC (KwaZulu-Natal)
Results
Semi-finals
Final
References