South African Premiership
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use South African English Template:Infobox football league
The South African Premiership, also known as the Betway Premiership for sponsorship reasons, and commonly referred to as the PSL after its governing body,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is a professional soccer league in South Africa and the highest level of the South African soccer league system. It has been organised since 1996.
The 2024–25 season started on 14 September 2024, Mamelodi Sundowns successfully defended the title in 2025 which they've held continuously since the 2017–18 season.
History
Template:See The league was founded in 1996 after an agreement between the National Soccer League and the remnants of the National Professional Soccer League. The former name still exists today for legal purposes, with the Premier Soccer League being the trade name of the new league administrator.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The league was reduced from 18 to 16 teams after the end of the 2001–02 season to avoid fixture congestion, causing the disbandment of two teams; Ria Stars and Free State Stars, though the latter was reformed and competing as of the 2020–21 season. In 2004, a match-fixing scandal rocked the soccer landscape in South Africa. An investigation codenamed "Operation Dribble" was launched by the police system of South Africa police in June 2004. More than 40 arrests were made, ranging from club bosses to match commissioners, referees and their assistants. Kaizer Chiefs successfully defended their league title in 2005 after they won the prestigious trophy in 2004 for the first time in a decade. The 2005–06 season saw Mamelodi Sundowns capturing the title for a fourth time. Since the 2017–18 season, they have dominated the league, winning seven consecutive titles.
In 2007, the PSL signed a television deal with SuperSport worth R 1.6 billion, which was the biggest sporting deal in the history of the country and ranked the league into the top 15 in the world in terms of commercial broadcast deals. In the same year, ABSA replaced Castle Lager as the title sponsor, with the latter having sponsored the league since its inception. SuperSport United won 3 league titles in a row between 2008 and 2010.
As of 2025, the league is rated third in Africa according to the CAF 5-year ranking system.
For the 2018–19 season, the PSL gives each club a monthly grant of R 2 million, with funds coming from the television broadcasting rights and national sponsorships, with the league champion earning R 10 million.
In 2019, ABSA increased their sponsorship deal to the PSL to R 39.9 million,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which meant that the league winners would secure R 15 million. ABSA would however announce its cancellation of its sponsorship with the PSL a year later on 4 June 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 24 September 2020, DStv were announced as the new sponsor, with the league being rebranded as the DStv Premiership.<ref name="DStvPrem">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> MultiChoice also announced that Showmax would replace DStv as the jersey sponsor of SuperSport United F.C. so the latter would be independent to sponsor the league outright.<ref name="DStvPrem" />
On the 24th of July 2024, it was announced that Betway would be sponsoring the league, with DStv's contract ending a year early due to MultiChoice's financial troubles. This is one of the biggest sponsorships in South African football history worth R900-Million for the term of 3 years.<ref name="Ngidi">Template:Cite web</ref>
CEOs
- Template:Flagicon Trevor Phillips: 1996–1998
- Template:Flagicon Joe Ndlela: 1998–2000
- Template:Flagicon Robin Petersen: 2000–2001 (resigned)
- Template:Flagicon Trevor Phillips: 2002–2007
- Template:Flagicon Kjetil Siem: 2007–2011
- Template:Flagicon Zola Majavu: 2011 (resigned)
- Template:Flagicon Stanley Matthews: 2012 (resigned)
- Template:Flagicon Cambridge Mokanyane: 2013 (acting)
- Template:Flagicon Brand de Villers: 2013–2015
- Template:Flagicon Mato Madlala: 2016 – present (acting)
Qualification for CAF competitions
Association ranking for the 2025–26 CAF club season
The association ranking for the 2025–26 CAF Champions League and the 2025–26 CAF Confederation Cup will be based on results from each CAF club competition from 2020–21 to the 2024–25 season.
- Legend
- CL: CAF Champions League
- CC: CAF Confederation Cup
- ≥: Associations points might increase on basis of its clubs performance in 2024–25 CAF club competitions
- Template:Legend
| Rank | Association | 2020–21 Template:Small |
2021–22 Template:Small |
2022–23 Template:Small |
2023–24 Template:Small |
2024–25 Template:Small |
Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | Mvt | CL | CC | CL | CC | CL | CC | CL | CC | CL | CC | ||
| 1 | 1 | Template:Same position — | Template:Fba | 8 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 2.5 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 4 | {{#expr: (8+3)*1 + (7+4)*2 + (8+2.5)*3 + (7+7)*4 + (10+4)*5}} |
| 2 | 2 | Template:Same position — | Template:Fba | 4 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | {{#expr: (4+6)*1 + (9+5)*2 + (8+2)*3 + (2+4)*4 + (5+5)*5}} |
| 3 | 4 | Template:Rise +1 | Template:Fba | 8 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1.5 | 9 | 3 | {{#expr: (8+2)*1 + (5+4)*2 + (4+3)*3 + (4+1.5)*4 + (9+3)*5}} |
| 4 | 3 | Template:Fall -1 | Template:Fba | 6 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | {{#expr: (6+5)*1 + (7+1)*2 + (6+5)*3 + (2+3)*4 + (5+5)*5}} |
| 5 | 6 | Template:Rise +1 | Template:Fba | 3 | 0.5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | {{#expr: (3+0.5)*1 + (0+2)*2 + (3+4)*3 + (6+0)*4 + (2+4)*5}} |
| 6 | 5 | Template:Fall -1 | Template:Fba | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0.5 | {{#expr: (4+3)*1 + (5+1)*2 + (4+2)*3 + (6+1)*4 + (3+0.5)*5}} |
| 7 | 8 | Template:Rise +1 | Template:Fba | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | {{#expr: (1+0)*1 + (5+0)*2 + (2+0)*3 + (3+1.5)*4 + (2+2)*5}} |
| 8 | 7 | Template:Fall -1 | Template:Fba | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | {{#expr: (4+0)*1 + (0+3)*2 + (1+2)*3 + (4+0)*4 + (2+0)*5}} |
| 9 | 9 | Template:Same position — | Template:Fba | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | {{#expr: (3+0)*1 + (3+0)*2 + (3+0)*3 + (2+0)*4 + (3+0)*5}} |
| 10 | 11 | Template:Rise +1 | Template:Fba | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | {{#expr: (0+0)*1 + (0+1)*2 + (0+3)*3 + (3+0)*4 + (1+2)*5}} |
| 11 | 10 | Template:Fall -1 | Template:Fba | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | {{#expr: (0+0.5)*1 + (0+5)*2 + (0+0.5)*3 + (0+3)*4 + (0+0)*5}} |
| 12 | 12 | Template:Same position — | Template:Fba | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | {{#expr: (0+2)*1 + (0+0)*2 + (0+2)*3 + (0+2)*4 + (0+1)*5}} |
Sponsorship
The league has had title sponsorships since its inception. Like the EFL League One and the Premier League divisions in England, the league takes its title sponsor's name to determine its official common name:
- 1996–2007: Castle Lager (Castle Premiership)
- 2007–2020: ABSA (ABSA Premiership)
- 2020–2024: DStv (DStv Premiership)
- 2024–present: Betway (Betway Premiership)<ref name="Ngidi"/>
Format
As of the 2024–25 season, the league is composed of 16 teams competing from August to May each season, similar to the format of most European football leagues. Each team plays the other teams twice in a double round-robin format using the three points for a win system.
At the conclusion of each season, the champion and runner-up of the Premiership qualify for the CAF Champions League, while the 3rd-place team and the Nedbank Cup champions qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup. The bottom team in the league is automatically relegated and replaced by the winner of the Motsepe Foundation Championship, whiles the team finishing immediately above the bottom team enters a mini-league playoff series with the 2nd and 3rd-placed league-finished teams of the National First Division, with the playoff winners earning their place in the Premiership for the following season.
Broadcasting
The league's broadcaster is SuperSport, who in turn sub-leases the broadcasting rights to the SABC, so as to broadcast some matches on public television in South Africa. SuperSport was awarded an initial $277 million 5-year broadcast/TV rights deal in 2007 by the Premier Soccer League to help commercialize the league globally beyond South Africa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> matches on sunset times between Tuesdays and Fridays and on weekends whereas the SABC telecast matches played on Wednesday nights and on weekends.
Since 2016, as SuperSport is a brand owned by the MultiChoice Group, the league is available to watch live and on demand via their specified services; the DStv App (formerly DStv Mobile and DStv Now) and Showmax Pro. Both are accessible via the DStv website for PC and Mac and as mobile apps on Android and iOS/iPadOS for mobile phones, tablets and Smart TVs.
Past seasons
Previous winners, runners-up, relegated and promoted teams
League titles by club
Manager records
League winning managers
Most successful managers
| Manager(s) | Club(s) | Win(s) | Winning year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon Pitso Mosimane | Mamelodi Sundowns (5) | 5 | 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20 |
| Template:Flagicon Ted Dumitru | Mamelodi Sundowns (2), Kaizer Chiefs (2) | 4 | 1997–98, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2004–05 |
| Template:Flagicon Gavin Hunt | SuperSport United (3), Bidvest Wits | 4 | 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2016–17 |
| Template:Flagicon Gordon Igesund | Manning Rangers, Orlando Pirates, Santos, Mamelodi Sundowns | 4 | 1996–97, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2006–07 |
| Template:Flagicon Rhulani Mokwena | Mamelodi Sundowns (4) | 4 | 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| Template:Flagicon Stuart Baxter | Kaizer Chiefs (2) | 2 | 2012–13, 2014–15 |
| Template:Flagicon Manqoba Mngqithi | Mamelodi Sundowns (2) | 2 | 2020–21, 2021–22 |
- Template:Flagicon Gordon Igesund is the only manager to have won the league with 4 clubs; Manning Rangers 1996-97, Orlando Pirates 2000-01, Santos 2001-02, Mamelodi Sundowns 2006-07.
- Template:Flagicon Rulani Mokwena become the only manager to have retained the league title 4 times in a row (4) Mamelodi Sundowns 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023-24; breaking previous record of Template:Flagicon Gavin Hunt and Template:Flagicon Pitso Mosimane of the managers that have retained the title the most times; (3) SuperSport United 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, (3) Mamelodi Sundowns 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20 respectively.
- Seven foreign managers have won the league, with Template:Flagicon Ted Dumitru having won the most titles, 4.
- Since the founding of the Premiership in 1996, the following two records Ernst Middendorp holds remain unsurpassed: he has coached eight different top-flight clubs in the Premiership, and has been appointed on twelve occasions as the permanent head coach of a top-flight team competing in the Premiership.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
League records
- Ever presents: Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United
- Most Premiership titles: 15 – Mamelodi Sundowns (1997/98), (1998/99), (1999/00), (2005/06), (2006/07), (2013/14), (2015/16), (2017/18), (2018/19), (2019/20), (2020/21), (2021/22), (2022/23), (2023/24), (2024/2025)
- Biggest Premiership win: 8–1 – SuperSport United vs Zulu Royals (2003/04), 8-1 Orlando Pirates F.C. vs Marumo Gallants F.C. (2024/2025)
- Most goals scored in a season: 73 – Kaizer Chiefs (1998/99)
- Most goals conceded in a season: 85 – Mother City (1999/00)
- Most points in a season: 75 – Mamelodi Sundowns (1998/99) & (1999/00) and Kaizer Chiefs (1998/99)
- Most points in a season (30 games): 73 – Mamelodi Sundowns (2023/24)
League participants
As of the 2025–26 season.
| Club | Number of seasons in Premiership | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Kaizer Chiefs | 30 | all |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | 30 | all |
| Orlando Pirates | 30 | all |
| SuperSport United | 29 | all |
| Lamontville Golden Arrows | 24 | 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26 |
| Moroka Swallows | 23 | 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| Bidvest Wits | 23 | 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20 |
| Bloemfontein Celtic | 22 | 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21 |
| AmaZulu | 22 | 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2003–04,<ref group="note">Amazulu participated as Zulu Royals in 2003/04</ref> 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26 |
| Cape Town Spurs/Ajax Cape Town<ref group="note" name="CT-merger">In 1999, Cape Town Spurs and Seven Stars were merged to create Ajax Cape Town. In 2020, Ajax CT ended their association with Dutch club AFC Ajax, and it was renamed Cape Town Spurs</ref> | 22 | 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2023–24 |
| Free State Stars | 19 | 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99,<ref group="note">Free State Stars participated as Qwa Qwa Stars in 1996/97, 1997/98 and 1998/99</ref> 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17,
2017–18, 2018–19 |
| Maritzburg United / Durban City | 17 | 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2025–26 |
| Jomo Cosmos | 15 | 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2015–16 |
| Santos | 15 | 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12 |
| Platinum Stars | 14 | 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07,<ref group="note">Platinum Stars participated as Silver Stars in 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06 and 2006/07</ref> 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17 |
| Chippa United | 13 | 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26 |
| Black Leopards | 11 | 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2019–20, 2020–21 |
| Polokwane City | 10 | 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26 |
| Bush Bucks | 9 | 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06 |
| Cape Town City | 9 | 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25 |
| Manning Rangers | 9 | 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05 |
| Hellenic | 8 | 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04 |
| Stellenbosch | 7 | 2019-20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26 |
| Baroka | 6 | 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22 |
| Mpumalanga Black Aces | 6 | 1996–97,<ref group="note">Participated as Witbank Aces in 1996/1997</ref> 2009–10, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16 |
| TS Galaxy | 6 | 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26 |
| Dynamos | 5 | 1998–99, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06 |
| Sekhukhune United F.C. | 5 | 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26 |
| African Wanderers | 4 | 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03 |
| Tembisa Classic | 4 | 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2005–06 |
| Marumo Gallants | 4 | 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25, 2025–26 |
| Richards Bay | 4 | 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26 |
| Royal AM | 4 | 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25 |
| University of Pretoria | 4 | 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16 |
| Highlands Park | 3 | 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20 |
| Vaal Professionals | 3 | 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99 |
| Real Rovers | 2 | 1996–97, 1997–98 |
| Ria Stars | 2 | 2000–01, 2001–02 |
| Thanda Royal Zulu | 2 | 2007–08, 2008–09 |
| Bay United | 1 | 2008–09 |
| Benoni Premier United | 1 | 2006–07 |
| Magesi | 2 | 2024–25, 2025–26 |
| Michau Warriors | 1 | 1996–97 |
| Mother City | 1 | 1999–2000 |
| Orbit College | 1 | 2025–26 |
| Seven Stars | 1 | 1998–99<ref group="note" name="CT-merger"/> |
| Siwelele | 1 | 2025–26 |
| Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila | 1 | 2020–21 |
| Vasco da Gama | 1 | 2010–11 |
Major titles
Overall totals
Defunct teams: Template:Dagger.
Top goalscorers
All-time top goalscorers
- 130 goals:Peter Shalulile<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 129 goals: Siyabonga Nomvete<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 124 goals: Bradley Grobler<ref>https://supersport.com/olympic20games/betway-premiership/news/d1ed8221-e70e-45fd-a1cf-55fe320c1883/sekhukhune-snatch-late-winner-against-arrows</ref>
- 110 goals: Daniel Mudau<ref name=goal.com-1>Makhaya, Ernest. "AMAZULU STRIKER SIYABONGA NOMVETHE BECOMES PSL'S ALL-TIME GOALSCORER", Goal (website), England, 21 October 2017. Retrieved on 23 October 2017.</ref>
- 104 goals: Manuel Bucuane
- 104 goals: Mabhuti Khenyeza<ref name=goal.com-1 />
- 101 goals: Siphiwe Tshabalala
- 101 goals: Collins Mbesuma
NB: list includes all players who have scored at least 100 goals in the PSL era. Also includes cup competitions.
Source:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Founding members
Bold entries are participating in the current season. Template:Col-start Template:Col-2
- AmaZulu
- Bloemfontein Celtic
- Cape Town Spurs
- Hellenic
- Jomo Cosmos
- Kaizer Chiefs
- Manning Rangers
- Michau Warriors
- Moroka Swallows
- Orlando Pirates
- QwaQwa Stars
- Real Rovers
- Mamelodi Sundowns
- SuperSport United
- Bush Bucks
- Vaal Professionals
- Witbank Aces
- Wits University
See also
- Association football records in South Africa
- List of South African association football families
- List of association footballers who died while playing
- List of foreign football players in South Africa
- List of one-club men in association football
- Vodacom League
- Soccer records and statistics in South Africa
External links
- Template:Official website
- Previous official website as ABSA Premiership (Archived)
- The League History and Records at RSSSF
References
Template:Football in South Africa Template:South African soccer seasons Template:Premier Soccer League Template:Premier Soccer League awards Template:Top sport leagues in South Africa Template:CAF Leagues