# 2022–23 SAFA Second Division

The 2022–23 SAFA Second Division (known as the ABC Motsepe League for sponsorship reasons) was the 25th 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 was completed, the nine winning teams of each regional division entered the playoffs.
Upington City from the Northern Cape, and Orbit College from the North West qualified for the final, with both earning promotion to the 2023–24 National First Division.
Upington City defeated Orbit College 3-1 in the final, with Upington City taking R1.2 million in prize money, and Orbit R600,000.

## Regions
### Eastern Cape
#### Stream A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Amavarara | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 11 | +17 | 34 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Sinenkani | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 28 | 15 | +13 | 29 | |
| 3 | FC Ravens | 16 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 21 | 10 | +11 | 28 | |
| 4 | AmaMpondo United | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 20 | 18 | +2 | 24 | |
| 5 | Highbury FC | 16 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 23 | 21 | +2 | 23 | |
| 6 | Matta Milan | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 21 | −7 | 18 | |
| 7 | Thohoyandou FC | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 18 | −7 | 15 | |
| 8 | Bush Bucks | 16 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 23 | −8 | 15 | |
| 9 | Champion FC | 16 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 33 | −23 | 9 | |

#### Stream B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Peace Makers FC | 16 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 26 | 13 | +13 | 31 | Playoffs |
| 2 | FC Siyanda | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 29 | 17 | +12 | 30 | |
| 3 | Bush Pirates | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 26 | 14 | +12 | 30 | |
| 4 | Amaxesibe FC | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 21 | −2 | 22 | |
| 5 | Relatives FC | 16 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 24 | −9 | 21 | |
| 6 | Hanley FC | 16 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 14 | +1 | 20 | |
| 7 | Seven Stars | 16 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 22 | −5 | 17 | |
| 8 | Bizana Pondo Chiefs | 16 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 21 | −7 | 13 | |
| 9 | FC Jacaranda | 16 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 31 | −15 | 9 | |

### Free State
#### Stream A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Buffalo FC | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 19 | +6 | 33 | Playoffs |
| 2 | D General FC | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 28 | 10 | +18 | 32 | |
| 3 | Dikwena United | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 12 | +16 | 30 | |
| 4 | African Warriors | 16 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 21 | 10 | +11 | 29 | |
| 5 | Marquard Dynamos | 16 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 21 | 18 | +3 | 23 | |
| 6 | Clever Boys | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 19 | −6 | 14 | |
| 7 | Bloemfontein Young Tigers | 16 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 26 | −10 | 12 | |
| 8 | FC Spartans | 16 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 27 | −15 | 10 | |
| 9 | Welkom Real Stars | 16 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 33 | −23 | 7 | |

#### Stream B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Black Cross | 16 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 39 | 18 | +21 | 40 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Mangaung Unite | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 35 | 11 | +24 | 36 | |
| 3 | Mathaithai | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 24 | +2 | 24 | |
| 4 | Sibanye Golden Stars | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 29 | 33 | −4 | 22 | |
| 5 | Central University | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 23 | 19 | +4 | 21 | |
| 6 | Peace Lovers | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 16 | 24 | −8 | 18 | |
| 7 | Bloemfontein Eagles | 16 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 21 | −4 | 17 | |
| 8 | FC Matjhabeng | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 28 | 33 | −5 | 16 | |
| 9 | Small Tigers | 16 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 17 | 47 | −30 | 12 | |

### Gauteng

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Dondol Stars | 36 | 24 | 8 | 4 | 66 | 17 | +49 | 80 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Pele Pele | 36 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 78 | 34 | +44 | 73 | |
| 3 | Jomo Cosmos | 36 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 54 | 28 | +26 | 73 | |
| 4 | Soweto Super United | 36 | 21 | 10 | 5 | 56 | 34 | +22 | 73 | |
| 5 | Highlands Park | 36 | 19 | 12 | 5 | 50 | 19 | +31 | 69 | |
| 6 | African All Stars | 36 | 21 | 5 | 10 | 55 | 38 | +17 | 68 | |
| 7 | Hollywood Thunder | 36 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 38 | 25 | +13 | 58 | |
| 8 | M Tigers | 36 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 65 | 40 | +25 | 57 | |
| 9 | JBM FC | 36 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 54 | 44 | +10 | 54 | |
| 10 | Wits University | 36 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 43 | 41 | +2 | 52 | |
| 11 | Dube Continental | 36 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 60 | 59 | +1 | 47 | |
| 12 | ZK | 36 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 39 | 54 | −15 | 40 | |
| 13 | Ally's Tigers | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 34 | 52 | −18 | 40 | |
| 14 | Senaoane Gunners | 36 | 10 | 7 | 19 | 43 | 64 | −21 | 37 | |
| 15 | Mamelodi Newcastle | 36 | 10 | 5 | 21 | 32 | 59 | −27 | 35 | |
| 16 | Tembisa Sports Centre | 36 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 40 | 59 | −19 | 34 | |
| 17 | Leruma United | 36 | 9 | 6 | 21 | 39 | 58 | −19 | 33 | |
| 18 | FC MaLions | 36 | 3 | 7 | 26 | 20 | 68 | −48 | 16 | |
| 19 | Casric F.C. | 36 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 22 | 95 | −73 | 12 | |

### Kwazulu-Natal
#### Stream A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Milford FC | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 7 | +20 | 41 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Mkhumbane Classic | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 12 | +16 | 39 | |
| 3 | Stone Breakers | 18 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 34 | 19 | +15 | 37 | |
| 4 | Summerfield Dynamos | 18 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 10 | +15 | 37 | |
| 5 | Njampela FC | 18 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 34 | 19 | +15 | 33 | |
| 6 | Muzi King Masters | 18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 19 | −5 | 20 | |
| 7 | Happy Wanderers | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 25 | −11 | 15 | |
| 8 | Mtuba All Stars | 18 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 19 | 32 | −13 | 13 | |
| 9 | Asande FC | 18 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 35 | −23 | 10 | |
| 10 | Mkwakhwini Classic | 18 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 45 | −29 | 7 | |

#### Stream B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | uMsinga United | 18 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 31 | 10 | +21 | 38 | Playoffs |
| 2 | GWP Friends | 18 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 28 | 9 | +19 | 38 | |
| 3 | Mkhambathi FC | 18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 12 | +16 | 36 | |
| 4 | Midland Wanderers | 18 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 13 | +13 | 33 | |
| 5 | Newcastle All Stars | 18 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 24 | 20 | +4 | 31 | |
| 6 | Ethekwini Coastal | 18 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 19 | 22 | −3 | 22 | |
| 7 | Umvoti | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 10 | +5 | 21 | |
| 8 | Drakensberg FC | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 29 | −12 | 19 | |
| 9 | Durban Pioneers | 18 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 19 | 32 | −13 | 10 | |
| 10 | XI Experience | 18 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 8 | 58 | −50 | 1 | |

### Limpopo
#### Stream A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Mpheni Home Defenders | 16 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 5 | +25 | 45 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Giyani Happy Boys | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 32 | 18 | +14 | 36 | |
| 3 | United Artists | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 22 | |
| 4 | Emmanuel FC | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 19 | 25 | −6 | 19 | |
| 5 | Bellevue Village Winners Park | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 15 | −1 | 17 | |
| 6 | Vondwe XI Bullets | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 22 | −4 | 17 | |
| 7 | Munaca FC | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 17 | −1 | 16 | |
| 8 | Musina United | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 23 | −9 | 16 | |
| 9 | Mikhado FC | 16 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 24 | −18 | 12 | |

#### Stream B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | The Dolphins | 16 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 6 | +22 | 40 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Ngwaabe City Motors FC | 16 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 7 | +25 | 39 | |
| 3 | Mighty F.C. | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 22 | −4 | 23 | |
| 4 | Tzaneen United | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 21 | |
| 5 | Tubatse United | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 25 | 26 | −1 | 21 | |
| 6 | Eleven Fast Tigers | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 23 | −6 | 18 | |
| 7 | Ditlou F.C. | 16 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 21 | 26 | −5 | 17 | |
| 8 | PJ Stars | 16 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 24 | −15 | 11 | |
| 9 | Phinnet F.C. | 13 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 25 | −16 | 7 | |

### Mpumalanga
#### Stream A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Secunda M Stars | 16 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 24 | 11 | +13 | 33 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Fernie Battalion FC | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 19 | +12 | 33 | |
| 3 | Sivutsa Stars | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 16 | +8 | 28 | |
| 4 | Middelburg United | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 15 | +8 | 28 | |
| 5 | Mpumalanga Football Academy | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 21 | |
| 6 | Passion FC | 16 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 21 | 26 | −5 | 18 | |
| 7 | Kanyamazane All Stars | 16 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 20 | −5 | 17 | |
| 8 | Witbank Citylads | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 21 | −7 | 15 | |
| 9 | Witbank Shepard | 16 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 35 | −24 | 6 | |

#### Stream B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Mlambo Royal Cubs | 15 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 29 | 14 | +15 | 32 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Barberton All Stars | 16 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 35 | 21 | +14 | 29 | |
| 3 | Gemsbok Classic | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 24 | 14 | +10 | 29 | |
| 4 | Destiny College | 15 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 13 | +7 | 26 | |
| 5 | Sibange Young Bucks | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 20 | 14 | +6 | 23 | |
| 6 | Bakoena Chiefs | 16 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 27 | −3 | 18 | |
| 7 | Phaphama FC | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 19 | 25 | −6 | 16 | |
| 8 | Flymingo United FC | 15 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 27 | −16 | 9 | |
| 9 | Kabokweni Future Stars | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 32 | −27 | 4 | |

### North West
#### Stream A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Orbit College | 15 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 6 | +34 | 40 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Som United | 15 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 11 | +9 | 31 | |
| 3 | Stilfontein Real Hearts | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 19 | +3 | 24 | |
| 4 | Kgositlile FC | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 20 | 23 | −3 | 23 | |
| 5 | Army Rockets FC | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 25 | −8 | 17 | |
| 6 | Thaba Tshwane FC | 15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 31 | −12 | 14 | |
| 7 | NW Signal | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 21 | −7 | 12 | |
| 8 | NWU Tawana | 14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 16 | 30 | −14 | 9 | |
| 9 | Rustenburg FC | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 4 | |

#### Stream B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | North West University | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 38 | 12 | +26 | 35 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Bokone FC | 15 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 31 | 18 | +13 | 31 | |
| 3 | Black Eagles | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 11 | +10 | 29 | |
| 4 | Mahika Champions | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 16 | +2 | 18 | |
| 5 | FC Maberethe | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 23 | −8 | 18 | |
| 6 | City Rovers | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 23 | −3 | 17 | |
| 7 | TUT FC | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 19 | −2 | 15 | |
| 8 | Taung Mega Stars | 15 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 9 | 38 | −29 | 7 | |
| 9 | Manong FC | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 12 | −9 | 6 | |

### Northern Cape
#### Stream A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Upington City | 16 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 27 | 7 | +20 | 39 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Kakamas Juventus | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 11 | +17 | 35 | |
| 3 | NC Professionals | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 26 | 13 | +13 | 26 | |
| 4 | Tornado FC | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 27 | 22 | +5 | 25 | |
| 5 | Benfica FC | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 15 | 18 | −3 | 22 | |
| 6 | Olympics | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 28 | −4 | 20 | |
| 7 | Kakamas Sundowns | 16 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 21 | 25 | −4 | 20 | |
| 8 | Olifantshoek Sporting | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 23 | −5 | 16 | |
| 9 | Olifantshoek Young Stars | 16 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 48 | −39 | 2 | |

#### Stream B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Diamond City | 16 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 49 | 15 | +34 | 39 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Postmasburg FC | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 7 | +17 | 34 | |
| 3 | United Rovers | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 26 | |
| 4 | Jacksa Spears | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 32 | 28 | +4 | 25 | |
| 5 | Tsantshabane Stars FC | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 25 | 16 | +9 | 24 | |
| 6 | Warrenvale Stars | 16 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 18 | 24 | −6 | 21 | |
| 7 | Rasta Far Eagles | 16 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 35 | −16 | 14 | |
| 8 | Kuruman Scorpions | 16 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 33 | −19 | 12 | |
| 9 | Colville United | 16 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 36 | −24 | 10 | |

### Western Cape
#### Stream A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Zizwe United | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 12 | +13 | 35 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Hout Bay United | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 38 | 19 | +19 | 33 | |
| 3 | Santos | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 20 | +5 | 25 | |
| 4 | Grassy Park United | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 25 | |
| 5 | Maties FC | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 31 | 27 | +4 | 22 | |
| 6 | City Kings | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 19 | +2 | 22 | |
| 7 | Ikapa Sporting | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 16 | 26 | −10 | 18 | |
| 8 | Cape Town Spurs Youth | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 29 | −12 | 15 | |
| 9 | Mbekweni Sundowns | 16 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 23 | 44 | −21 | 9 | |

#### Stream B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Young Bafana | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 31 | 17 | +14 | 34 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Ubuntu Cape Town | 16 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 35 | 23 | +12 | 32 | |
| 3 | Clarewood JPM FC | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 13 | +23 | 30 | |
| 4 | FN Rangers | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 31 | 13 | +18 | 30 | |
| 5 | Hanover Park FC | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 39 | 19 | +20 | 27 | |
| 6 | Batalion FC | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 23 | −5 | 25 | |
| 7 | Ukhanya United | 16 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 33 | −21 | 10 | |
| 8 | Royal Blues | 16 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 13 | 38 | −25 | 9 | |
| 9 | Wanderers FC | 16 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 10 | 46 | −36 | 5 | |

## Playoff stage

Western Cape winners Young Bafana were pulled from the playoffs a week before they started after losing an arbitration case lodged by rivals Zizwe United regarding playing with unregistered players. However, hours before kickoff, the ruling was set aside by the Gauteng High Court and Young Bafana entered the playoffs.

### Semi-finals

The semifinal between hosts Umsinga United and Orbit College at Harry Gwala Stadium was marred by violence. Orbit College won 1–0, and at the end of the match, fans invaded the pitch, gunshots were fired, while Umsinga United's goalkeeper coach Gezani Zondi was struck on the head and needed medical attention.
Upington City beat Mpheni Home Defenders of Limpopo 3–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the first semi-final of the day, while Orbit College broke many hearts in a crowded Harry Gwala Stadium when they beat local side Umsinga United 1–0 in the second semi-final.