List of association football stadiums by country
South Africa
Table:
#
Stadium
Capacity
City
Province
Home team

1
Soccer City
94,736
Johannesburg
Gauteng
South Africa national football team, Kaizer Chiefs

2
Ellis Park Stadium
62,567
Johannesburg
Gauteng
Lions, Golden Lions

3
Odi Stadium
60,000
Mabopane
Gauteng
Garankuwa United

4
Phakisa Freeway
60,000
Welkom
Free State
Motor Racing

5
Mmabatho Stadium
59,000
Mahikeng
North West
training ground for North-West University

6
Cape Town Stadium
55,000
Cape Town
Western Cape
Ajax Cape Town, Cape Town City F.C.

7
Moses Mabhida Stadium
54,000
Durban
KwaZulu-Natal
Amazulu

8
Kings Park Stadium
52,000
Durban
KwaZulu-Natal
Sharks, Template:Rut Sharks (Currie Cup)

9
Loftus Versfeld Stadium
51,762
Pretoria
Gauteng
Bulls, Blue Bulls

10
Newlands Stadium
51,100
Cape Town
Western Cape
South Africa national rugby union team, Stormers, Western Province

11
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
48,459
Port Elizabeth
Eastern Cape
Southern Kings, Eastern Province Elephants

12
Royal Bafokeng Stadium
42,000
Rustenburg
North West
Platinum Stars

13
Peter Mokaba Stadium
41,733
Polokwane
Limpopo
Polokwane City

14
Mbombela Stadium
40,929
Mbombela
Mpumalanga
Pumas, Mpumalanga Black Aces

15
Free State Stadium
40,911
Bloemfontein
Free State
Bloemfontein Celtic F.C., Cheetahs, Free State Cheetahs

16
Orlando Stadium
40,000
Soweto
Gauteng
Orlando Pirates F.C.

17
Johannesburg Stadium
37,500
Johannesburg
Gauteng
training ground for Lions and Golden Lions

18
Charles Mopeli Stadium
35,000
Phuthaditjhaba
Free State
Maluti FET College F.C.

19
Wanderers Stadium
34,000
Johannesburg
Gauteng
Proteas, Highveld Lions cricket team, Gauteng cricket team

20
EPRU Stadium
33,852
Port Elizabeth
Eastern Cape
no current tenant

Using the accompanying table as well as the passages provided at the end.

Answer the following question: What precinct is the Sharks ' stadium in ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Use only the information given.

South Africa is divided into nine provinces . On the eve of the 1994 general election , South Africa 's former homelands , also known as Bantustans , were reintegrated and the four existing provinces were divided into nine . The twelfth , thirteenth and sixteenth amendments to the constitution changed the borders of seven of the provinces .
First National Bank Stadium or simply FNB Stadium , also known as Soccer City and The Calabash , is a stadium located in Nasrec , bordering the Soweto area of Johannesburg , South Africa . The venue is managed by Stadium Management South Africa ( SMSA ) and is a home of Kaizer Chiefs F.C . in the South African Premier Soccer League as well as key fixtures for the South African national football team . It is located next to the South African Football Association headquarters ( SAFA House ) where both the FIFA offices and the Local Organising Committee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup were housed . Designed as the main association football stadium for the World Cup , the FNB Stadium became the largest stadium in Africa with a capacity of 94,736 . However , its maximum capacity during the 2010 FIFA World Cup was 84,490 due to reserved seating for the press and other VIPs . The stadium is also known by its nickname The Calabash due to its resemblance to the African pot or gourd . It was the site of Nelson Mandela 's first speech in Johannesburg after his release from prison in 1990 , and served as the venue for a memorial service to him on 10 December 2013 . It was also the site of Chris Hani 's funeral . It was also the venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final , which was played by the Netherlands and Spain . The World Cup closing ceremony on the day of the final saw the final public appearance of Mandela .
Johannesburg ( /dʒoʊˈhænɪsbɜːrɡ/ joh-HAN-iss-burg , also US : /-ˈhɑːn-/ -⁠HAHN- ; Afrikaans : [ jʊəˈɦanəsbœrχ ] ; Zulu and Xhosa : eGoli ) , informally known as Jozi or Joburg , is the largest city in South Africa and one of the 50 largest urban areas in the world . It is the provincial capital and largest city of Gauteng , which is the wealthiest province in South Africa . Johannesburg is the seat of the Constitutional Court . The city is located in the mineral-rich Witwatersrand range of hills and is the centre of large-scale gold and diamond trade , It was one of the host cities of the official tournament of the 2010 FIFA World Cup . The metropolis is an alpha global city as listed by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network . In 2019 , the population of the city of Johannesburg was 5,635,127 , making it the most populous city in South Africa . In the same year , the population of Johannesburg 's urban agglomeration was put at 8,000,000. land area of the municipal city ( 1,645 km2 or 635 sq mi ) is large in comparison with those of other major cities , resulting in a moderate population density of 2,364 per square kilometre ( 6,120/sq mi ) . The city was established in 1886 following the discovery of gold on what had been a farm . Due to the extremely large gold deposit found along the Witwatersrand , within ten years , the population had grown to 100,000 inhabitants . A separate city from the late 1970s until 1994 , Soweto is now part of Johannesburg . Originally an acronym for South-Western Townships , Soweto originated as a collection of settlements on the outskirts of Johannesburg , populated mostly by native African workers from the gold mining industry . Soweto , although eventually incorporated into Johannesburg , had been separated as a residential area for Blacks , who were not permitted to live in Johannesburg proper .
Gauteng ( /xaʊˈtɛŋ/ khow-TENG ; Tswana : Gauteng ; Sotho : Gauteng ; Zulu : eGoli ; Tsonga : Gauteng/eXilungwini ; Ndebele , Xhosa : iRhawuti ; Southern Ndebele : I-Gauteng ; Venda : Gauteng ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa . The name in Sotho-Tswana means place of gold . Situated in the Highveld , Gauteng is the smallest province in South Africa , accounting for only 1.5% of the land area . Nevertheless , it is highly urbanised , containing the country 's largest city , Johannesburg , its administrative capital , Pretoria , and other large areas such as Midrand and Vanderbijlpark . As of 2019 [ update ] , Gauteng is the most populous province in South Africa with a population of approximately 15 million people according to estimates .
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in men 's international association football and it 's governed by the South African Football Association , the governing body for football in South Africa , The team 's nickname is Bafana Bafana , South Africa 's home ground is FNB Stadium , so named due to a naming rights deal in Johannesburg , The team 's greatest result was winning the Africa Cup of Nations at home in 1996 . The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football ( CAF ) . Having played their first match in 1924 , they returned to the world stage in 1992 , after 16 years of being banned from FIFA , and 40 years of effective suspension due to the apartheid system . South Africa became the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup when it was granted host status for the 2010 edition . The team 's Siphiwe Tshabalala was also the first player to score in this World Cup during the opening game against Mexico , which was followed by an iconic Macarena-style goal celebration from five South African players . Despite defeating France 2-1 in their final game of the Group Stage , they failed to progress from the first round of the tournament , becoming the first host nation in the history of the FIFA World Cup to exit in the group stage . Despite this , the team ranked 20th out of 32 sides , ranking higher than 12 teams who qualified .
Kaizer Chiefs Football Club is a South African professional football club based in Naturena in Johannesburg that plays in the Premier Soccer League . The team is nicknamed Amakhosi which means Lords or Chiefs in Zulu , and the Phefeni Glamour Boys , They are one of the most supported clubs in the country , drawing an average home attendance of 14,873 in the 2018/2019 season , the second highest in the league , The team plays it 's home matches at FNB Stadium . The team has a strong local rivalry with Orlando Pirates , a fellow Soweto team which Chiefs founder Kaizer Motaung played for in his early playing career . Famous players who donned the black and gold jersey in the past include former national team captains Neil Tovey , Lucas Radebe and also Patrick Ntsoelengoe , Gary Bailey , John Shoes Moshoeu , Shaun Bartlett , Steve Komphela , Siyabonga Nomvete and Doctor Khumalo . [ citation needed ] Chiefs were banned by the Confederation of African Football ( CAF ) from competing in African club competitions until 2009 after their abrupt withdrawal from the 2005 CAF Confederation Cup . This was the second time in four years that Chiefs had been penalized by CAF for refusal to participate in a scheduled CAF competition . It is the most supported team in sub-Saharan Africa with a support base of over 16,000,000 fans and the only team with over 50 club trophies amongst the top 3 teams in South Africa . Kaiser Chiefs , a British indie/britpop band , was named after the club because Lucas Radebe , a former player of Kaizer Chiefs , captained Leeds United , the team they all supported .
Ellis Park Stadium ( known as Emirates Airline Park for sponsorship reasons ) is a rugby union and association football stadium in the city of Johannesburg , Gauteng Province , South Africa . It hosted the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup , which was won by the country 's national team , the Springboks . The stadium was the country 's most modern when it was upgraded in 1982 to accommodate almost 60,000 people . Today , the stadium hosts both football and rugby and is also used as a venue for other large events , such as open-air concerts . It has become synonymous with rugby as the only time when rugby was not played at Ellis Park was during 1980 and 1981 , when the stadium was under construction during the upgrade . The stadium was originally named after Mr J.D . Ellis , who made the area for the stadium available . A five-year ZAR 450 million ( US $ 58 million/£30 million ) naming rights deal was signed in 2008 with The Coca-Cola Company , resulting in the stadium being named Coca-Cola Park between 2008 and 2012 . League , provincial , and international football games have all been played at the stadium , and it has seen such teams as Brazil , Manchester United and Arsenal play . Ellis Park Stadium is the centerpiece of a sporting sector in the south-east of Johannesburg , where it neighbours Johannesburg Stadium ( athletics ) , Standard Bank Arena , Ellis Park Tennis Stadium , and an Olympic-class swimming pool . Ellis Park is home to the following teams :
The Lions ( known as the Emirates Lions for sponsorship reasons ) is a South African professional rugby union team based in Johannesburg in the Gauteng province who compete in the Super Rugby competition . They were previously known as the Cats between the 1998 and 2006 seasons . They had varied results in the competition , finishing at the bottom of the table six times ( in 1998 , 2003 , 2004 , 2008 , 2010 and 2012 ) , but reaching the semifinal stage five times ( in 2000 , 2001 , 2016 , 2017 and 2018 ) . They reached their first final in 2016 - where they lost to the Hurricanes 20-3 in Wellington - and repeated the feat in 2017 , losing 17-25 to the Crusaders in Johannesburg , The team plays it 's home games at Ellis Park Stadium . The team faced relegation from the Super 14 after the Southern Spears won a court ruling that they should be included in the competition in place of the lowest ranked South African team in the 2006 competition . However , the Spears and the country 's national federation , the South African Rugby Union , reached a settlement of their legal case . By the terms of the settlement , announced on 16 November 2006 , the financially troubled Spears abandoned their case . As part of a second attempt to introduce Super Rugby into the Eastern Cape , after finishing bottom of the 2012 Super Rugby table , the South African Rugby Union mandated that the Lions be replaced in the 2013 competition by the Southern Kings from Port Elizabeth . The Lions exclusion lasted just one season as they regained their place in Super Rugby for the 2014 season by beating the Southern Kings in a two leg playoff after the Kings finished bottom of the 2013 South African conference . During the 2016 Super Rugby season play-offs , the Lions defeated the South Island teams ( Crusaders and Highlanders ) to reach the championship final , in which they were defeated 20-3 by the Hurricanes .
The Golden Lions ( currently known as the Xerox Golden Lions for sponsorship reasons ) is a rugby team based in Johannesburg , South Africa who compete in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup . The team is governed by the Golden Lions Rugby Union ( GLRU ) , and was originally known as Transvaal ( after Transvaal Province ) , before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions , before again being changed to the Golden Lions . The GLRU also operate a side in the Super Rugby competition , the Lions , who also draw players from Griquas .
Odi Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Mabopane , South Africa . It was used mostly for football matches . The stadium holds 60,000 . It was the home stadium of Garankuwa United football team . ODI Stadium is situated in Mabopane north of Pretoria , within the jurisdiction of Tshwane Metropolitan Council . The stadium consists of an un-covered grandstand , secondary , 4 rectangular , 2 small triangular stands and 20 floating stands , giving the stadium a seating capacity of approximately 50,000+ seats . The stadium was constructed in the late 1980s and boasts many facilities , including a soccer field , athletics track , field events ( long jump , high jump , javelin throw , hammer throw , etc . ) , 2 changing rooms , 4 sets of male / female restrooms , 4 kiosks , VIP lounge & seating , security room , referee room , press room , control room , admin offices , generator room , stores , several indoor sporting areas , 4 high masts and 4 ticketing offices . Precinct facilities outside the stadium include a club house , caretaker house , combi-courts for tennis , basketball , volleyball and two informal soccer training grounds .
Mabopane is a Township in South Africa . It is situated in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality , in the north of Gauteng .
Garankuwa United , sometimes also spelled Ga-Rankuwa United , is a semi-professional association football club based in the Garankuwa township of Pretoria , in the Gauteng province of South Africa . The club was founded ( or revived ) in July 2004 , to play their first season in the SAFA Regional League . In June 2005 , the owners Dingi Rahlagane and Harold Kaizer Motaung , decided to acquire the Castle League franchise of the club Buffaloes , based in the North-West province of Vodacom League , which provided the team an automatic promotion to this level for 2005-06 . The team 's debut season in Vodacom League was very successful , as they managed both to win the North-West province , and get promoted after the provincial play-offs , to play the next two seasons in the National First Division . By June 2007 , they were however relegated back again to the North-West province of Vodacom League . They managed again to win the province , both in 2010 and 2011 , but today still play in Vodacom League , as they were not yet able to also win the promotional tickets at the provincial play-offs .
Phakisa Freeway is a motor racing circuit located between Welkom and Odendaalsrus , South Africa . It is one of the few oval speedways outside of the USA and the only one in Africa , although the oval has failed to host any meaningful racing in its 20 year history .
Welkom ( Afrikaans pronunciation : [ ˈvɛlkɔm ] ) is the second-largest city in the Free State province of South Africa , located about 140 kilometres ( 90 mi ) northeast of Bloemfontein , the provincial capital . Welkom is also known as Circle City , City Within A Garden , Mvela and Matjhabeng . The city 's English name , Matjhabeng means 'where nations meet ' , derived from the migrant labour system , where people of various countries such as Lesotho , Malawi and Mozambique etc . met to work in the mines of the gold fields . A settlement was laid out on a farm named Welkom ( which is the Afrikaans and Dutch word for welcome ) after gold was discovered in the region , and it was officially proclaimed a town in 1948 . The town became a municipality in 1961 . It now falls in the Matjhabeng Municipality , part of the Lejweleputswa District . Welkom was officially declared a city on 14 February 1968 .
The Free State ( Sotho : Freistata ; Afrikaans : Vrystaat ; Xhosa : iFreyistata ; Tswana : Foreistata ; Zulu : iFuleyisitata ; before 1995 , the Orange Free State ) is a province of South Africa . Its capital is Bloemfontein , which is also South Africa 's judicial capital . Its historical origins lie in the Boer republic called the Orange Free State and later Orange Free State Province .
Mmabatho Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Mafikeng , South Africa . It is currently used mostly for football matches . The stadium holds 59,000 people and was designed and built in 1981 by an Israeli construction firm .
Mahikeng , still commonly known as Mafikeng and previously Mafeking , is the capital city of the North-West Province of South Africa . Located close to South Africa 's border with Botswana , Mahikeng is 1,400 km ( 870 mi ) northeast of Cape Town and 260 km ( 160 mi ) west of Johannesburg . In 2001 , it had a population of 49,300 . In 2007 , Mahikeng was reported to have a population of 250,000 of which the CBD constitutes between 69,000 and 75,000 . It is built on the open veld at an elevation of 1,500 m ( 4,921 ft ) , by the banks of the Upper Molopo River . The Madibi goldfields are some 15 km ( 9.3 mi ) south of the town .
North West ( Tswana : Bokone Bophirima ; Southern Sotho : Leboya Bophirima ; Northern Sotho : Leboa-Bodikela ) is a province of South Africa . Its capital is Mahikeng . The province is located to the west of the major population centre of Gauteng .
The North-West University ( NWU ) is a South African university with three campuses at Potchefstroom , Mahikeng ( Previously Mafikeng ) and Vanderbijlpark , South Africa . In Potchefstroom is the head office of the University . With its merged status , the North-West University became one of the largest universities in South Africa and has 64 081 students ( full-time and distance education ) . The universities that merged to form this institution are the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and the University of North-West ( formerly the University of Bophuthatswana ) . The Potchefstroom University already had a Vanderbijlpark branch .
The Cape Town Stadium ( Afrikaans : Kaapstad-stadion ; Xhosa : Inkundla yezemidlalo yaseKapa ) is a football and Rugby union stadium in Cape Town , South Africa , that was built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup . During the planning stage , it was known as the Green Point Stadium , which was the name of the previous stadium on the site , and this name was also used frequently during World Cup media coverage . It is the home ground of Premier Soccer League clubs Ajax Cape Town ( since 2010 ) and Cape Town City ( since 2016 ) . It has also hosted the South Africa Sevens rugby tournament since 2015 . The stadium is located in Green Point , between Signal Hill and the Atlantic Ocean , close to the Cape Town city centre and to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront , a popular tourist and shopping venue . The stadium had a seating capacity of 64,100 during the 2010 World Cup , later reduced to 55,000 . The stadium is connected to the waterfront by a new road connection , Granger Bay Boulevard .
Cape Town ( Afrikaans : Kaapstad ) [ ˈkɑːpstat ] ; Xhosa : iKapa ; Khoi-San : //Hui ! Gaeb ) is the second most populous city in South Africa after Johannesburg and also the legislative capital of South Africa . Colloquially named the Mother City , it is the largest city of the Western Cape province . It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality , The Parliament of South Africa sits in Cape Town . The other two capitals are located in Pretoria ( the executive capital where the Presidency is based ) and Bloemfontein ( the judicial capital where the Supreme Court of Appeal is located ) . The city is known for its harbour , for its natural setting in the Cape Floristic Region , and for landmarks such as Table Mountain and Cape Point . Cape Town is home to 64% of the Western Cape 's population . The city was named the World Design Capital for 2014 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design . In 2014 , Cape Town was named the best place in the world to visit by both The New York Times and The Daily Telegraph. , Cape Town was one of the host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup . Located on the shore of Table Bay , Cape Town , as the oldest urban area in South Africa , was developed by the United East India Company ( VOC ) as a supply station for Dutch ships sailing to East Africa , India , and the Far East . Jan van Riebeeck 's arrival on 6 April 1652 established VOC Cape Colony , the first permanent European settlement in South Africa . Cape Town outgrew its original purpose as the first European outpost at the Castle of Good Hope , becoming the economic and cultural hub of the Cape Colony . Until the Witwatersrand Gold Rush and the development of Johannesburg , Cape Town was the largest city in South Africa .
The Western Cape ( Afrikaans : Wes-Kaap ; Xhosa : iNtshona-Koloni ) is a province of South Africa , situated on the south-western coast of the country . It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of 129,449 square kilometres ( 49,981 sq mi ) , and the third most populous , with an estimated 6.6 million inhabitants in 2018 . About two-thirds of these inhabitants live in the metropolitan area of Cape Town , which is also the provincial capital . The Western Cape was created in 1994 from part of the former Cape Province , The two largest cities are Cape Town and George
Ajax Cape Town ( Afrikaans : Ajax Kaapstad , pronounced [ ˈɑːjaks ˈkɑːpstat ] ) is a South African professional football club based in Parow that plays in the National First Division . Dutch Eredivisie club AFC Ajax is their parent club and acts as the majority shareholder .
The Moses Mabhida Stadium is a football stadium in Durban , South Africa , named after Moses Mabhida , a former General Secretary of the South African Communist Party . It is a multi-use stadium . The stadium became a venue for several events , like bungee jumping , concerts , cricket , football , golf practice , motorsports and rugby union . It was one of the host stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup . The stadium has a capacity of 56,000 . The stadium is adjacent to the Kings Park Stadium , in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct , and the Durban street circuit used for the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport . It includes a sports institute , and a transmodal transport station . [ citation needed ]
Durban ( Zulu : eThekwini , from itheku meaning bay/lagoon ) is the third most populous city in South Africa after Johannesburg and Cape Town and the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal . Located on the east coast of South Africa , Durban is the busiest port in the country . It is also one of the major centres of tourism because of the city 's warm subtropical climate and extensive beaches . Durban forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality , which includes neighboring towns and has a population of about 3.44 million , making the combined municipality one of the biggest cities on the Indian Ocean coast of the African continent . It is also the second most important manufacturing hub in South Africa after Johannesburg . In May 2015 , Durban was officially recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders Cities , Durban was one of the host cities for the 2010 FIFA World Cup .
KwaZulu-Natal ( /kwɑːˌzuːluː nəˈtɑːl/ ; also referred to as KZN and known as the garden province ; Zulu : iKwaZulu-Natali ; Xhosa : KwaZulu-Natal ; Afrikaans : KwaZoeloe-Natal ) is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ( Place of the Zulu in Zulu ) and Natal Province were merged . It is located in the southeast of the country , enjoying a long shoreline beside the Indian Ocean and sharing borders with three other provinces and the countries of Mozambique , Eswatini and Lesotho . Its capital is Pietermaritzburg and its largest city is Durban . It is the second most populous province in South Africa , with slightly fewer residents than Gauteng . During the 1830s and early 1840s , the northern part of what is now KwaZulu-Natal was occupied by the Zulu Kingdom while the southern part was , briefly , the Boer republic of Natalia before becoming , in 1843 , the British Colony of Natal . KwaZulu remained independent until 1879 . KwaZulu-Natal is the birthplace of many notable figures in South Africa 's history , such as Albert Luthuli , the first non-white and the first person from outside Europe and the Americas to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize ( 1960 ) ; Pixley ka Isaka Seme , the founder of the African National Congress ( ANC ) and South Africa 's first black lawyer ; John Langalibalele Dube , the ANC 's founding president ; Harry Gwala , ANC member and anti-apartheid activist ; Mangosuthu Buthelezi , the founder of the Inkatha Freedom Party ( IFP ) ; Anton Lembede , the founding president of the ANC Youth League ; Jacob Zuma , the former President of South Africa ; Bhambatha , a 19th-century Zulu chief who became an anti-apartheid icon ; and Shaka Zulu . Two areas in KwaZulu-Natal have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites : the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park .
AmaZulu is a South African football club based in the city of Durban that plays in the Premier Soccer League . The club 's nickname , Usuthu , is a Zulu war cry .
The Kings Park Stadium ( known as the Jonsson Kings Park Stadium for sponsorship reasons since March 8th 2018 ) , is a stadium located in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct in Durban , South Africa . The stadium was originally built with a capacity of 12,000 and opened in 1958 , extensively renovated in the 1980s and then again in time for the 1995 Rugby World Cup . It currently has a capacity of 52,000 and is the home ground of the Sharks . The stadium has also been used by Durban-based Premier Soccer League football ( soccer ) clubs , as well as for large football finals . It was previously also known as the ABSA Stadium ( between 2000 and 2010 ) , Mr Price Kings Park Stadium ( in 2011 and 2012 ) and Growthpoint Kings Park ( between 2013 and early 2018 ) due to sponsorship deals .
The Sharks ( known as the Cell C Sharks for sponsorship reasons ) is a South African professional rugby union team based in Durban in KwaZulu Natal completing in the Super Rugby competition ( Super 10 , 1993-95 ; Super 12 , 1996 - 2005 ; Super 14 , 2006-10 ; Super Rugby 2011-present ) and centred on the Sharks union , also based in Durban and drawing players from all of KwaZulu-Natal Province , The team plays its home matches at the Kings Park Stadium . In 1993-1995 South Africa was represented in the Super 10 by their three top unions ( top three teams from the previous years Currie Cup ) . Natal ( as they were called then ) qualified in 1993 and 1994 . Natal were runners-up in 1994 after having lost to Queensland 21-10 in the final . In 1996 and 1997 South Africa was represented in the Super 12 by their four top unions rather than franchises , and Natal qualified and competed both years . They have never won any of the Super Rugby competition , but have reached the final four times , as Natal in 1996 and as the Sharks in 2001 , 2007 and 2012 . The side contains many Springbok players , including Tendai 'Beast ' Mtawarira , Andre Esterhuizen , Dan du Preez , Coenie Oosthuizen and Curwin Bosch . [ needs update ] They have also featured many international stars including France international Frédéric Michalak . In 2010 , they were slated to feature Argentine star Juan Martín Hernández , but he was ruled out for the season with a back injury . In 2017 they recruited France 's Clément Poitrenaud . [ importance ? ]
The Sharks are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament . The Sharks ' home stadium is Kings Park Stadium . They draw most of their players from the KwaZulu-Natal Province . The Sharks are the current representative team of the Natal Rugby Union , founded in 1890 . The team is the fourth most successful provincial union in the country , having won the Currie Cup title eight times . Natal won its first Currie Cup competition in 1990 , the same year the union celebrated its centenary anniversary . Since then the Sharks have won the Currie Cup in 1992 , 1995 , 1996 , 2008 , 2010 , 2013 and most recently in 2018 . For most of their history , the team was known simply as 'Natal ' , with a nickname of 'The Banana Boys ' until the mid-1990s when they were re-branded as the Sharks . The Sharks team that plays in the Super Rugby competition is essentially the same team - they also play in Durban and draw their players from KwaZulu-Natal . For most of Super Rugby history , the Sharks Super Rugby franchise drew players from a much larger area than the Sharks provincial union , with the rugby unions of Border , based in East London and Eastern Province from Port Elizabeth included in the Sharks franchise . Since 2013 the Southern Kings functions on its own , and no longer supplies players to the Sharks franchise .
Loftus Versfeld Stadium is a rugby and football stadium situated in the Arcadia suburb of Pretoria , Gauteng , South Africa . The stadium has a capacity of 51,762 for rugby union and it is occasionally used for football matches . The stadium is the home ground of the Bulls franchise of the Super Rugby tournament and the Blue Bulls union in South Africa 's Currie Cup . It also hosted the 2009 Super 14 Final which the Bulls won 61-17 against the Waikato Chiefs , and the 2009 Currie Cup final , which the Bulls went on to win 36-24 against the Free State Cheetahs . Also , the South Africa national rugby union team has played several test matches at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium . They played New Zealand in 1970 , 1996 , 1999 , 2003 and 2006 , Australia in 1967 , 1997 , 2001 , 2005 , 2010 and 2012 , England in 1994 , 2000 and 2007 , and Ireland in 1998 . In June 2010 , the stadium hosted opening round games and one game of the round of 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup .
Pretoria ( /prɪˈtɔːriə/ pri-TOR-ee-ə ; Zulu : ePitoli ; Tswana : Tshwane ) is the fourth most populous city in South Africa after Durban and is an administrative capital of South Africa . It straddles the Apies River and has spread eastwards into the foothills of the Magaliesberg mountains . It is one of the country 's three capital cities , serving as the seat of the administrative branch of government ( Cape Town is the legislative capital and Bloemfontein the judicial capital ) , and of foreign embassies to South Africa . Pretoria has a reputation for being an academic city with three universities , the Tshwane University of Technology ( TUT ) , University of Pretoria ( UP ) , and the University of South Africa ( UNISA ) , also home to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research ( CSIR ) , and the Human Sciences Research Council . The city also hosts the National Research Foundation and the South African Bureau of Standards making the city a hub for research . Pretoria is the central part of the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality which was formed by the amalgamation of several former local authorities including Centurion and Soshanguve . There have been proposals to change the name of Pretoria itself to Tshwane and the proposed name change has caused some public controversy , Pretoria was one of the host cities of the official tournament for the 2010 FIFA World Cup . Pretoria is named after the Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius , and within South Africa sometimes called the Jacaranda City due to the thousands of jacaranda trees planted in its streets , parks and gardens .
The Bulls , for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Bulls , is a South African professional rugby union team based in Pretoria and they play their home matches at Loftus Versfeld . Prior to 1998 , the Bulls competed in the then-Super 12 as Northern Transvaal , as in those years South Africa was represented in the competition by its top four Currie Cup sides from the previous season , instead of the modern Super Rugby teams . They compete in the Super Rugby . The side won the Super 14 in 2007 , 2009 and 2010 , placing them among the most successful teams in Super Rugby history with three titles . They were the most successful team of the Super 14 era ( 2006-10 ) , winning three out of the five titles . They are the most successful South African team , and the only South African team to win a Super Rugby title .
The Blue Bulls , known for sponsorship reasons as the Vodacom Blue Bulls , or more popularly by their Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle , is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament . They are governed by the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and are based at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria , Gauteng province . In 1998 the Northern Transvaal team , representing the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union ( NTRU ) , was renamed , officially taking on their then nickname the Blue Bulls . The NTRU itself became the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and the Super Rugby team operated by the union was renamed simply the Bulls . When Vodacom became the team 's major sponsor their name was added . Previously the side was sponsored by ExxonMobil and known as the Mobil Blue Bulls . Their main colour is blue and their emblem a bull 's head and horns .
The Newlands Stadium , currently referred to as DHL Newlands for sponsorship reasons , is located in Cape Town , South Africa . The stadium currently has a capacity of 51,900 people , but is not an all-seater venue . It is the oldest rugby stadium in South Africa and the second-oldest in the world . Various sports teams currently use the stadium as their home base , including :
The South African national rugby union team , commonly known as the Springboks ( colloquially the Boks or Bokke , and Amabokoboko ) is the country 's national team governed by the South African Rugby Union . The Springboks play in green and gold jerseys with white shorts , and their emblem is the native antelope springbok . The team has been representing South Africa in international rugby union since 30 July 1891 , when they played their first test match against a British Isles touring team . Although South Africa was instrumental in the creation of the Rugby World Cup competition , the Springboks did not compete in the first two World Cups in 1987 and 1991 because of international anti-apartheid sporting boycotts . The team made its World Cup debut in 1995 , when the newly democratic South Africa hosted the tournament . The Springboks defeated the All Blacks 15-12 in the final , which is now remembered as one of the greatest moments in South Africa 's sporting history , and a watershed moment in the post-Apartheid nation-building process . South Africa regained the title as champions 12 years later , when they defeated England 15-6 in the 2007 final . As a result of the 2007 World Cup tournament the Springboks were promoted to first place in the IRB World Rankings , a position they held until July the following year when New Zealand regained the top spot . They were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards . South Africa then won a third World Cup title in 2019 , defeating England 32-12 in the final . As a result of this , the South African National Rugby Union Team were named 2020 World Team of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards for a second time . The Springboks also compete in the annual Rugby Championship ( formerly the Tri-Nations ) , along with southern-hemisphere counterparts Argentina , Australia and New Zealand .
The Stormers ( known for sponsorship reasons as the DHL Stormers ) is a South African professional rugby union team based in Cape Town in the Western Cape , competing in the Super Rugby competition . They have never won a tournament , but their home stadium , Newlands , typically draws the highest average attendance figures of any ground in Super Rugby . [ citation needed ] They are centred on the Western Province Currie Cup side , but also draw players from the Boland Cavaliers ( covering the Cape Winelands and West Coast districts , with home matches in Wellington ) . Through 2005 , they also drew players from the SWD Eagles ( George ) , which meant that they drew players from all three unions in the Western Cape Province . However , the general realignment of franchise areas resulting from the expansion of the competition resulted in the Eagles being moved to the area of the Southern Spears ( later succeeded by the Southern Kings ) . Prior to 1998 , South Africa did not use a franchise system for the Super 12 , instead sending the top four unions from its domestic competition , the Currie Cup , into the Super 12 . In 1996 , the Stormers qualified and competed in the Super 12 as Western Province . In 1997 , they did not qualify , the 4th South African team being the Orange Free State ( now the Free State Cheetahs at Currie Cup level ; the region would later be represented in Super 12 by the Cats ( now known as the Lions ) and in Super 14 by the Cheetahs ) . The Stormers played their first ever final , against the Bulls in front of 36,000 fans in Johannesburg , in 2010 after beating the Waratahs in the semi-final stage but ultimately lost to the Bulls . In the two previous years in which they reached the semi-finals , 1999 and 2004 , they were eliminated by the Highlanders and Crusaders . They made consecutive home semifinals in 2011 and 2012 , but lost both at Newlands to the Crusaders and the Sharks respectively . In 2015 they won the South African conference for a third time , before losing their home quarterfinal against the Brumbies .
Western Province is a South African rugby union team based in Newlands , Cape Town , that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments . Founded in 1883 , the team has won multiple titles , a record of 34 Currie Cup titles including the inaugural competition , the Vodacom Cup , the Absa Nite Series , and the Lion Cup . The club has the most supporters of any Currie Cup team . The Club is nicknamed Die Streeptruie ( The Striped Jerseys in Afrikaans ) in reference to their legendary blue and white hooped jerseys . These Striped Jerseys were the colours of Malmesbury Rugby Football Club , established in 1881 . They are also known simply as Province by all South African rugby lovers , while Afrikaans-speaking supporters also refer to the team by its abbreviation , W.P . ( pronounced : vee pee [ ee as in beer ] ) . Western Province were the 2012 Vodacom Cup Champions , having defeated the Griquas in 2012 by 20 points to 18 . They also are the 2014 Currie cup champions , having defeated the Lions 19-16 in the final . Western Province is the only South African Team besides the Blue Bulls to have appeared in every final of every competition in South African rugby : the Vodacom Cup , the Lion Cup , the Absa Nite Series , the Currie Cup and the Super Rugby Competitions ( as the DHL Stormers ) . Another accomplishment of Western Province , which no South African team has ever been able to match , is the double victories over the All Blacks the first being ( 10-3 ) played on 15 August 1928 and again ( 12-11 ) on 16 July 1976 , while several countries have never been able to beat the All Black team , Province managed this feat . In 2010 province again did a remarkable victory over all of New Zealand 's five super unions , this was the first and only time such an accomplishment has been achieved .
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is a football and Rugby union stadium in Port Elizabeth , Eastern Cape , South Africa , it is one the world class stadiums in South Africa , It hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches and the third place play off , It is the home of Chippa United football club and Southern Kings a team of rugby union . The five-tier , R2 billion ( approximately $ 159 million ) Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was built overlooking the North End Lake , at the heart of the city . It is one of three coastal stadiums built to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup . It regularly hosts large-scale rugby union and football ( soccer ) matches . The stadium has also been used as a concert venue .
Port Elizabeth or Nelson Mandela Bay ( Xhosa : iBhayi ; Afrikaans : Die Baai [ di ˈbɑːi ] ) often known by its initials P.E. , and colloquially as The Friendly City , is a major seaport city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa along the Indian Ocean . Port Elizabeth is Africas southern-most and South Africas second oldest city . It is the seat of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality ( South Africas second largest metropolitan administrative district by area ) ; the countrys sixth most-populous city ; the most-populous city of Eastern Cape ; and the cultural , economic and financial center of the Eastern Cape . The city is among the top five cities in the world for pleasant weather , according to a 2014 scientific climate study of 600 global cities . Port Elizabeth is known for many blue-flag beaches along the citys urban coastline ; its popularity as an international and local holiday destination ; and its rich and diverse cultural heritage . It is a tourism gateway city for the Eastern Cape and the only city with the closest proximity to malaria-free big five game game reserves . The economy of Port Elizabeth is primarily oriented towards automotive assembly , manufacturing and export industries , and the city is also a major South African and sub-Saharan African destination for investment . Foreign direct investments of $ 19,8 billion has been secured over the past decade . Several Fortune 500 companies have a presence or their African operations headquartered in Port Elizabeth . The citys most prominent landmarks are Shark Rock pier , the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium , and the Donkin Reserve . Port Elizabeth was one of the host cities for the official tournament of the 2010 FIFA World Cup . Port Elizabeth is a popular domestic and international holiday destination .
The Eastern Cape ( Xhosa : iMpuma-Kapa ; Afrikaans : Oos-Kaap ; Sotho : Kapa Botjhabela ) is one of the provinces of South Africa . Its capital is Bhisho , but its two largest cities are East London and Port Elizabeth . The second largest province in the country at 168 966 km2 after Northern Cape , it was formed in 1994 out of the Xhosa homelands or bantustans of Transkei and Ciskei , together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province . The central and eastern part of the province is the traditional home of the indigenous Xhosa people . In 1820 this area began to be settled by Europeans who originally came from England and some from Scotland and Ireland .
The Southern Kings , ( known for sponsorship reasons as the Isuzu Southern Kings ) is a South African professional rugby union team based in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa . The team that played Super Rugby in 2013 , 2016 and 2017 , before joining the Pro14 competition prior to the 2017-18 season . The team plays it 's home matches at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and was formally announced at the opening of this stadium on 16 June 2009 , in time to coincide with the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa . For the 2013 season , the Kings ' catchment area was made up of the Eastern Cape and parts of the Western Cape , drawing players from 3 provincial unions , namely the Eastern Province Kings , based in Port Elizabeth ( representing the southern half of the Eastern Cape ) , the Border Bulldogs , based in East London ( representing the northern half of the Eastern Cape ) and the SWD Eagles , based in George ( representing the South Western Districts ) . However , after the South African Rugby Union took over the running of the franchise in November 2015 , the franchise had no formal ties to any of the provincial unions .
The Eastern Province Elephants ( known as the Multisure Eastern Province Elephants for sponsorship reasons ) are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Rugby Challenge competitions . They are governed by the Eastern Province Rugby Union ( EPRU or EP Rugby ) . The team represents the Western half of the Eastern Cape province , and they play their home games at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth . In February 2018 , the EPRU announced that the name of the team would revert to Eastern Province Elephants for the 2018 season .
The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace is a football , rugby and athletics stadium in Phokeng near Rustenburg , South Africa . It was built and is managed by the Royal Bafokeng Nation . It is used as the home stadium for Premier Soccer League club Platinum Stars . The Leopards rugby team host large attendance matches during the Currie Cup at the stadium , instead of their usual home ground , Olën Park . The capacity of the stadium was increased from 38,000 to 42,000 to be able to host five first round matches and one second round match at the 2010 FIFA World Cup . For the 2010 tournament , the main west stand was upgraded and enlarged and given a new cantilever roof . Other improvements include the installation of new electronic scoreboards , new seats , and the upgrading of the floodlights and public address system . The stadium upgrade was completed in March 2009 for hosting 4 matches of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup .
Rustenburg ( /ˈrʌstɪnbɜːrɡ/ ; Afrikaans pronunciation : [ ˈrœstənbœrχ ] , Afrikaans and Dutch : Town of Rest [ citation needed ] ) is a city at the foot of the Magaliesberg mountain range . Rustenburg is located in the North West Province of South Africa . It was one of the official host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup , being in close proximity to Phokeng , the capital of the Royal Bafokeng Nation , where the Royal Bafokeng Stadium is located . The England national football team also used this as their base camp for the tournament .
Platinum Stars was a South African football club based in Phokeng near Rustenburg , North West Province that played in the Premier Soccer League . The club was nicknamed Dikwena , the Tswana name for Crocodiles . The team 's best finish in the Premiership came during the Return of well known Daniel Sailor Tshabalala 2006-07 season , when the club finished as league runners-up , earning them their only appearance in the CAF Champions League . During the same season , the club also collected their first major trophy , when the club won the Telkom Knockout in December 2006 . The club ceased in 2018 . A new club was created in Cape Town with Platinum Stars ' league license , Cape Umoya United F.C .
The Peter Mokaba Stadium is a football and rugby union stadium in Polokwane ( formerly Pietersburg ) , South Africa , that was used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup . It has a capacity of 45,500 but for the purposes of the 2010 FIFA World Cup the seating capacity was reduced to 41,733 . It is named after Peter Mokaba , a former leader of the ANC Youth League . It is located 3 kilometers from the city center and is located just east of the older Peter Mokaba Stadium . The stadium is one of five new stadiums that were built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup . Initial plans to upgrade the existing Old Peter Mokaba Stadium were abandoned in favour of the R1,245,000,000 ( ZAR ) new Peter Mokaba stadium . The stadium was used intensely for training and matches . Therefore , the natural grass has been reinforced with artificial fibers , which anchors the field into a stable and a level grass surface of Desso GrassMaster .
Polokwane ( UK : /ˌpɒləˈkwɑːnɪ/ , meaning Place of Safety in Northern Sotho ) , also known by its former name , Pietersburg , is a city and the capital of the Limpopo Province of South Africa . It is South Africa 's largest urban centre north of Gauteng . Polokwane was one of the host cities of the official tournament of the 2010 FIFA World Cup .
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa . It is named after the Limpopo River , which forms the province 's western and northern borders . The name Limpopo has its etymological origin in the Ndebele language , the original inhabitants of the area , meaning strong gushing waterfalls . The capital is Polokwane , ( formerly Pietersburg ) . The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994 , and was initially named Northern Transvaal . The following year , it was renamed Northern Province , which remained the name until 2003 , when it was formally changed to Limpopo after deliberation by the provincial government and amendment of the South African Constitution . An alternate name considered for the province was Mapungubwe . The Northern Ndebele people traditionally are the majority in the province . However , majority of them now speak Sepedi which is a home language for the Sekhukhune district . Most Matebele ( BakaLanga and BakaSeleka ) clans have been assimulated into the Pedi and Tswana communities . The Northern Ndebele are found from Hammarskraal , Mokopane , Zebediela right up to the Limpopo river . Some moved north and settled among the Venda people and got assimilated like the Chivhase and Mhwaduba chieftancies .
Polokwane City FC is a South African football club based in the city of Polokwane , Limpopo that currently plays in the Premier Soccer League .
Construction commenced in February 2007 and was completed in November 2009 . The construction contract was awarded to a South African-French consortium of Basil Read Construction and Bouygues . The structure is founded on 1,500 piles on a 10m structural grid . Each roof support ( in the shape of a giraffe ) sits on 18 piles on the 30m major structural bay . The 10m span seating beams are prestressed and most of the 3,170 units were pre-cast on site . The project was subjected to numerous wildcat strikes . With the 5th and final strike , all main contract labourers were dismissed . All subsequent work was performed by subcontractors . During a freak storm in January 2009 , a tower crane blew over and cut through the partially completed roof . The site was unoccupied at the time and there were no injuries . The construction required a total of 5.5 million man-hours to complete . The site accident history was exceptionally safe with the worst injury being a broken ankle .
Mbombela ( previously called Nelspruit ) is a city in northeastern South Africa . It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province . Located on the Crocodile River , Mbombela lies about 110 kilometres ( 68 mi ) by road west of the Mozambique border , 330 kilometres ( 210 mi ) east of Johannesburg and about 82 kilometres ( 51 mi ) North of the Eswatini border , Mbombela was one of the host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup .
Mpumalanga ( /əmˌpuːməˈlɑːŋɡə/ ( listen ) ; Swazi , Zulu : iMpumalanga ; Tsonga : Humadyambu ; Southern Ndebele : IMpumalanga ; Northern Sotho , Afrikaans , Southern Sotho : Mpumalanga ) is a province of South Africa . The name means east , or literally the place where the sun rises in the Swazi , Xhosa , Ndebele and Zulu languages . Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa , bordering Eswatini and Mozambique . It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa 's land area . It shares borders with the South African provinces of Limpopo to the north , Gauteng to the west , the Free State to the southwest , and KwaZulu-Natal to the south . The capital is Mbombela .
The Pumas are a South African rugby union team that competes in the Premier Division of the Currie Cup and the Northern Section of the Vodacom Cup . The team draws their players from Mpumalanga Province ( formerly known as the South Eastern Transvaal ) and plays at the Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela , having previously also played at the Puma Stadium in Witbank . The Pumas are a well supported team throughout Mpumalanga Province , with large fan bases located in Witbank , Middelburg , Ermelo and Mbombela . The Pumas average crowds of 13,000 at home Currie Cup matches .
Black Aces were a South African football club that played in the Premier Soccer League . Aces usually played their home games in the Mpumalanga province but were based and trained in Johannesburg .
The Free State Stadium ( Afrikaans : Vrystaatstadion ) , currently known as the Toyota Stadium for sponsorship reasons and formerly known as Vodacom Park , is a stadium in Bloemfontein , South Africa , used mainly for rugby union and also sometimes for association football . It was originally built for the 1995 Rugby World Cup , and was one of the venues for the 2010 FIFA World Cup . The primary rugby union tenants of the facility are :
Bloemfontein ( /ˈbluːmfɒnteɪn/ ; Afrikaans : [ ˈblumfɔntəi̯n ] ; from ! Orakobab : ǀʼAuxa ǃXās Bloem 's fountain ; in Dutch : fountain of flowers or blooming fountain ; also known as Bloem ) is the capital city of the province of Free State of South Africa ; and , as the judicial capital of the nation , one of South Africa 's three national capitals ( the other two being Cape Town , the legislative capital , and Pretoria , the administrative capital ) and is the seventh largest city in South Africa . Situated at an elevation of 1,395 m ( 4,577 ft ) above sea level , the city is home to approximately 520,000 residents and forms part of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality which has a population of 747,431 . It was one of the host cities for the 2010 FIFA World Cup . The city of Bloemfontein hosts the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa , the Franklin Game Reserve , Naval Hill , the Maselspoort Resort and the Sand du Plessis Theatre . The city hosts numerous museums , including the National Women 's Monument , the Anglo-Boer War Museum , the National Museum , and the Oliewenhuis Art Museum . Bloemfontein also host sub-Saharan Africa 's first digital planetarium , the Naval Hill Planetarium and Boyden Observatory , an astronomical research observatory erected by Harvard University . Bloemfontein is popularly and poetically known as the city of roses , for its abundance of these flowers and the annual rose festival held there . The city 's Sesotho name is Mangaung , meaning place of cheetahs . Its ! Orakobab name is ǀʼAuxa ǃXās or ǀKxʼauxa ǃXās ( Khoekhoegowab spelling : ǀAuxa ! Khās ) , which refers to Jan Bloem II , known as ! Xās-aob or Blumtseb who was a gaokxʼaob ( chief ) of the ǀŨdiǁʼaes ( Springbok Clan ) of the ! Ora ( Korana ) nation , whose kraal was the original settlement before the city was built .
The Free State ( Sotho : Freistata ; Afrikaans : Vrystaat ; Xhosa : iFreyistata ; Tswana : Foreistata ; Zulu : iFuleyisitata ; before 1995 , the Orange Free State ) is a province of South Africa . Its capital is Bloemfontein , which is also South Africa 's judicial capital . Its historical origins lie in the Boer republic called the Orange Free State and later Orange Free State Province .
Bloemfontein Celtic Football Club is a South African professional football club based in Bloemfontein that plays in the Premier Soccer League , Bloemfontein Celtic has a large fan base in the Free State . Its supporters are known as Siwelele , The team plays it 's home matches in Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium .
The Cheetahs , known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs , is a South African rugby union team that played Super Rugby between 2006 and 2017 , before joining the Pro14 competition prior to the 2017-18 season . They are based at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein . The franchise area encompasses the western half of the Free State province , the same as that of provincial Currie Cup side the Free State Cheetahs . Between 2006 and 2015 , the Griffons from the eastern half of the Free State province and Griquas from the Northern Cape province were Cheetahs franchise partners , but this ended prior to the 2016 Super Rugby season . The Cheetahs was one of the two new franchises that entered the expanded Super 14 competition in 2006 , the other being Australia 's Western Force . The Central Union was awarded the fifth South African franchise over the SEC franchise in April 2005 . In its first season the Cheetahs did surprisingly well , finishing tenth in the final standings , out of 14 sides . Prior to being accepted into the 2006 Super 14 season , the Cheetahs were represented as a part of the Cats . In addition , before the South African Rugby Union entered regionalised franchises into the competition , the Free State Cheetahs side competed in the 1997 Super 12 season .
The Free State Cheetahs ( formerly the Orange Free State ) , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs , for sponsorship reasons , are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament . They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 48,000 capacity Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein . The Cheetahs have won the Currie Cup six times , with five of the wins coming since 2005 , including winning the cup three times consecutively from 2005 to 2007 . Since the advent of professionalism in rugby union , they have been considered one of South Africa 's Big 5 provincial rugby Unions . The Cheetahs are a very well supported team across the Free State as well having large fan bases in Cape Town , Johannesburg and Pretoria . [ citation needed ] They are also known as the darlings of South African rugby , with many other South African rugby fans adopting them as their second team especially when they take on any of the other Big 5 teams . [ citation needed ] The Cheetahs average home crowds of approximately 17,000 in the Currie Cup when they play at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein . [ citation needed ] Their biggest rivals are traditionally Western Province . However , in recent times the Blue Bulls have also become fierce rivals of the Cheetahs . [ citation needed ]
Orlando Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium , in Soweto , a suburb of Johannesburg , in Gauteng province in South Africa . It is home venue for Orlando Pirates Football Club , a professional soccer team , which plays in the Premier Soccer League
Soweto ( /səˈwɛtoʊ , -ˈweɪt- , -ˈwiːt-/ ) is a township of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng , South Africa , bordering the city 's mining belt in the south . Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships . Formerly a separate municipality , it is now incorporated in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality , Suburbs of Johannesburg .
Orlando Pirates Football Club is a South African professional football club based in the Houghton suburb of the city of Johannesburg and plays in the top-tier system of Football in South Africa known as Premier Soccer League , The team plays it 's home matches at Orlando Stadium in Soweto . The club was founded in 1937 and was originally based in Orlando , Soweto . They are named 'Pirates ' after the 1940 film The Sea Hawk starring Errol Flynn . Orlando Pirates are the first club since the inception of the Premier Soccer League in 1996 to have won three major trophies in a single season back to back , having won the domestic league ABSA Premiership , the FA Cup Nedbank Cup and the Top 8 Cup MTN 8 during the ABSA Premiership 2010-11 season and domestic league ABSA Premiership , the League Cup Telkom Knockout and the Top 8 Cup MTN 8 during the ABSA Premiership 2011-12 season . They are one of only two South African teams with Mamelodi Sundowns to win the CAF Champions League , which they won in 1995 . They are the runners-up of 2015 CAF Confederation Cup . Orlando Pirates drew an average home attendance of 14,533 in the 2016-17 domestic league season . It became the second highest in the league . One of their biggest rivalries , besides the one with Kaizer Chiefs , is the rivalry with Moroka Swallows .
Johannesburg Stadium is a stadium , in the Doornfontein suburb of Johannesburg , Gauteng Province , South Africa . The stadium has a sweeping roof and can accommodate 37,500 people . It was originally built as an athletics stadium , but also hosted football and rugby matches . The eighth IAAF World Cup in Athletics was held at the stadium in 1998 . It served as the main stadium for the 1999 All-Africa Games . It is mostly used as a training ground for the Orlando Pirates and the Golden Lions . Michael Jackson performed two shows ( sold out ) on his History World Tour , on 10 and 12 October 1997 . Also he planned to give 2 concerts on September 30 and October 2 , 1993 , but these plans were suspended due to violence in Johannesburg . Bon Jovi performed at the stadium during their These Days Tour on December 1 , 1995 . Gloria Estefan performed at the stadium during her The Evolution Tour on March 22 , 1997 . Tina Turner concluded the African leg of her Wildest Dreams Tour , with two consecutive shows , on April 21-22 , 1996 . U2 finished their Popmart Tour at the stadium on March 21 , 1998 .
Charles Mopeli Stadium is located in Phuthaditjhaba , South Africa . It is mostly used by the PSL club Free State Stars and the National First Division club African Warriors . The stadium has a capacity of 35,000 .
Phuthaditjhaba ( formerly Witsieshoek or Qwaqwa ) is a town in the Free State province of South Africa . Phuthaditjhaba is a seSotho name that means meeting place of the tribes . It is located on the banks of the Elands River . It also located in a section of Drakensberg mountains ( Maloti in the Sesotho language ) . it is bordered by the province of KwaZulu-Natal to the southeast and the independent country of Lesotho to the southwest .
Maluti TVET College is a South African football club based in Phuthaditjhaba , Free State that plays in the ABC Motsepe League . The team represents the Maluti TVET College which has a number of campuses around the Free State , including Bethlehem , Bonamelo , Harrismith , Itemoheleng , Kwetlisong and Sefikeng .
The Wanderers Stadium ( Known as the Imperial Wanderers Stadium for sponsorship reasons ) is a stadium situated just south of Sandton in Illovo , Johannesburg in Gauteng Province , South Africa . Test , One Day and First class cricket matches are played here . It is also the home ground for the Highveld Lions , formerly known as Gauteng ( Transvaal ) .
The South Africa national cricket team also known as Proteas represents South Africa in men 's international cricket ( after South Africa 's national flower , Protea cynaroides , commonly known as the king protea ) , is administered by Cricket South Africa . South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council ( ICC ) with Test , One-Day International ( ODI ) and Twenty20 International ( T20I ) status . South Africa entered first-class and international cricket at the same time when they hosted an England cricket team in the 1888-89 season . At first , the team was no match for Australia or England but , having gained in experience and expertise , they were able to field a competitive team in the first decade of the 20th century . The team regularly played against Australia , England and New Zealand through to the 1960s , by which time there was considerable opposition to the country 's apartheid policy and an international ban was imposed by the ICC , commensurate with actions taken by other global sporting bodies . When the ban was imposed , South Africa had developed to a point where its team including Eddie Barlow , Graeme Pollock and Mike Procter was arguably the best in the world and had just outplayed Australia . The ban remained in place until 1991 and South Africa could then play against India , Pakistan , Sri Lanka and the West Indies for the first time . The team since reinstatement has mostly been strong and has at times held number one positions in international rankings ( had best ranking of No.1 in all three formats ) but has lacked success in ICC organised tournaments . Outstanding players since reinstatement have included Allan Donald , Makhaya Ntini , Shaun Pollock , Jacques Kallis , Graeme Smith , Kagiso Rabada , AB de Villiers , Dale Steyn , Herschelle Gibbs , Faf du Plessis , Morne Morkel , Imran Tahir and Hashim Amla .
Lions Cricket ( known as the Imperial Lions for sponsorship reasons ) are a professional cricket franchise which represents Central Gauteng , formerly Transvaal , and North West , formerly known as Western Transvaal . Its member unions are the Central Gauteng Lions cricket team and North West first class cricket who merged in 2003 to form the franchise which is the highest level of cricket in the region and a feeder to the South African National Cricket team . The home venues are the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg and Senwes Park in Potchefstroom . The combined team plays in the 4-Day Franchise Series first class cricket competition as well as in the Momentum 1 Day Cup and CSA T20 Challenge limited over competitions . They are the current 4-Day Franchise Series and T20 challenge competition champions .
Gauteng ( formerly Transvaal ) is the first-class cricket team of the southern parts of Gauteng province of South Africa . The team was called Transvaal from April 1890 to April 1997 ( the area north of Johannesburg , including Pretoria being part of the Northerns , formerly Northern Transvaal ) . Under the main competition 's various names - the Currie Cup , then the Castle Cup , now the SuperSport Series - Transvaal/Gauteng cricket team has been the most successful of the South African domestic sides , winning 25 times . The club 's most glorious period was the 1980s when they were dubbed the Mean Machine . For the purposes of the SuperSport Series , Gauteng has merged with North West ( formerly Western Transvaal ) to form the Highveld Lions or , more simply , the Lions . ( from October 2004 to the present time ) .
EPRU Stadium , also known by its original name of Boet Erasmus Stadium , was a stadium in Port Elizabeth , South Africa . The letters EPRU in the name represent the Eastern Province Rugby Union , the company behind the stadium 's historic primary tenants , the Mighty Elephants . The original name Boet Erasmus Stadium was named after Boet Erasmus , a former mayor of Port Elizabeth . The stadium held a capacity of 33,852 people and served primarily as a venue for rugby union matches but also hosted a number of football fixtures .