Note that Oranje Vrijstaat (Orange Free State) and Transvaal were independent entities until the end of the Boer Wars in 1902. For most provinces no data after 1900 are available below (with the notable exception of Transvaal).
Note that provincial selections competed for the Currie Cup.
Western Province | Transvaal | Griqualand West| Border | Natal | Oranje Vrijstaat | Eastern Province
Western Province
The Western Province FA was formed in 1891, based at Green Point Track,
later to switch headquarters to Hartleyvale Stadium and they set up
league and cup competitions, the latter known as the O'Reilly Cup.
Senior League O'Reilly Cup
1891 Royal Artillery -
1892 Royal Artillery -
1893 Royal Artillery Royal Artillery
1894 Black Watch Regiment Black Watch Regiment
1895 2nd York and Lancaster Reg. Pioneer Club Cape Town
1896 Middlesex Regiment York and Lancaster Regiment
1897 2nd King's Royal Rifles 2nd King's Royal Rifles
1898 2nd King's Royal Rifles Pioneer Club Cape Town
1899 Royal North Lancashire Reg. Docks Club Cape Town
1900 Peninsula Club Cape Town [no tournament]
Transvaal
The Transvaal FA had been formed in 1889, under the chairmanship of A M
Campbell. Their main competition was the Transvaal Challenge Cup.
Rand League
1909 not known [*1]
[*1] participants included: Old Natalians, CSAR, Maraisburg United,
Potchefstroom, Cinderella Deep, ERPM (East Rand Pro-prietary
Mines), and Krugersdorp Wanderers;
CSAR (Central South African Railways) were founded in 1900 as
IMR (Imperial Military Railways) at Johannesburg; changed name
to CSAR in 1903 and to JSAR (Johannesburg South African Railways)
in 1912; after 1947 they were called Johannesburg Ramblers.
Transvaal League
1919 Germiston Callies FC [*2]
1920-26 not known [8 teams in 1920; 12 teams in 1925]
1927 Germiston Callies FC
1928 Germiston Callies FC
1929-34 not known [*3]
1935 Arcadia
1936 Arcadia
1937 not known
1938 Germiston Callies FC
1939-44 not known
1945 Delfos
1946 Germiston Callies FC
1947 Germiston Callies FC
1948 not known
1949 Marist Brothers AFC
1950-54 not known
1955 Marist Brothers AFC [*4]
1956 Rangers FC [only 1 loss]
1957 Rangers FC [undefeated] [*5]
[*2] the 1919 league consisted of 11 clubs: Germiston Callies,
Crown Mines, ERPM, Jeppe High Old Boys, Marist Brothers,
Old Natalians, Queen's Park, Rangers, Roodepoort, JSAR,
and Wanderers.
[*3] Transvaal was split into three regional FAs in 1933:
Eastern Transvaal, Northern Transvaal and Southern Transvaal;
the Transvaal league continued with 10 clubs; Arcadia won the
Transvaal senior league 3 more times between 1929 and 1934.
[*4] in 1955, Marist Brothers won 19 trophies, including every
league championship title in the province from Under 14 to
Transvaal League - an all-time record.
[*5] the homepage of Delfos FC claim Delfos won the Transvaal
League in 1957.
Transvaal Challenge Cup
1889 Wanderers Jo'burg 3-2 Wasps Jo'burg
1890 Rangers FC Jo'burg 2-0 Wasps Jo'burg
1891 Wanderers Jo'burg 3-1 Rangers FC Jo'burg
1892 Rangers FC Jo'burg 4-0 Wanderers Jo'burg
1893 Rangers FC Jo'burg 4-2 Wanderers Jo'burg
1894 Old Natalians Jo'burg 3-2 Rangers FC Jo'burg
1895 Old Natalians Jo'burg 3-1 Rangers FC Jo'burg
1896 Rangers FC Jo'burg 2-0 Thistle
1897 Old Natalians Jo'burg 2-0 Roodepoort
1898 City FC Jo'burg 1-0 Old Natalians Jo'burg
1899 City FC Jo'burg 1-0 Roodepoort
1900 [no tournament]
1901 [no tournament]
1902 Wanderers FC 3-1 Gordon Highlanders
1903 Thistle 2-0 Wanderers FC
1904 Rangers FC 1-0 Cameron Highlanders [*5]
1905 Lancashire Fusiliers 2-0 Rangers FC
1906 Knights Deep 3-0 CSAR
1907 Cameron Highlanders 1-0 Vics
1908 Rangers FC 1-0 Marist Brothers AFC
1909 Nourse Mines 1-0 2nd Staffords
1910 2nd Hampshires 3-1 Krugersdorp Wanderers
1911 Knights Deep 2-0 Royal Scots Fusiliers
1912 Marist Brothers AFC 2-1 Royal Scots Fusiliers
1913 Germiston Callies FC 2-1 Knights Deep
1914 Old Natalians 1-0 Marist Brothers
1915 Arcadia Shepherds 3-0 Germiston Callies FC
1916 Germiston Callies 1-1 2-1 JSAR
1917 [no tournament]
1918 [no tournament]
1919 PSAR 3-3 w/o JSAR
1920 Germistin Callies FC 6-2 Jeppe Old Boys
1921 PSAR 3-0 Rangers FC
1922 PSAR 3-1 Old Natalians
1923 Benoni FC 3-1 Old Natalians
1924 PSAR 3-0 State Mine
1925 PSAR 1-1 1-0 Germiston RI
1926 JSAR drw 3-2 PSAR
1927 Germiston Callies FC 3-2 Arcadia Shepherds
1928 Germiston Callies FC 4-2 Arcadia Shepherds
1929 Benoni FC 1-0 Rangers FC
1930 Germiston Callies FC 1-0 State Mine
1931 JSAR 3-0 Johannesburg Callies
1932 Germiston Callies FC 5-2 Johannesburg Callies
1933 JSAR 5-2 Germiston Callies FC
1934 Germiston Callies FC 2-1 Berea Park
1935 JSAR 3-1 Benoni FC
1936 JSAR 4-0 Marist Brothers AFC
1937 Pretoria Municipals 5-2 State Mines
1938 Germiston Callies FC 4-1 JSAR
1939 State Mines
1940-44 [no tournament]
1945 Rangers FC bt Boksburg FC
1946 Rangers FC 3-0 Arcadia Shepherds
1947 Arcadia Shepherds 2-1 Johannesburg Ramblers
1948 Rangers FC 3-1 Garrison
1949 Rangers FC 1-1 1-0 Benoni FC
1950 Rangers FC 3-1 Benoni FC
1951 Delfos FC 0-0 1-0 Garrison
1952 Delfos FC 1-0 Marist Brothers AFC
1953 Berea Park FC 3-0 Germiston Callies FC
1954 Rangers FC 1-0 Marist Brothers AFC
1955 Johannesburg Ramblers 6-1 Garrison
1956 Marist Brothers AFC bt Johannesburg Ramblers [played Sep 8]
1957 Marist Brothers AFC 4-1 Benoni FC
1958 Marist Brothers AFC 5-1 Randfontein
1959 Boksburg FC 2-1 Berea Park
1960 Balfour Park
1961 Marist Brothers AFC
1962 Johannesburg Municipals
1963 Wanderers FC
1964 Crown Mines
1965 Johannesburg Municipals
1966 Balfour Park
1967 Blyvooruitzicht
1968 Wanderers FC
1969 Crown Mines
1970 Defence
1971 Marist-Robertsham
1972 Wanderers FC
1973 Sparta
1974 Balfour Park
1975 Balfour Park
1976 Kempton Park
1977 Wanderers FC
1978 Vaal United
1979 [no tournament]
1980 Robertsham
1981 Robertsham
1982 Robertsham
1983 Robertsham
1984 Army 4-1 Southern Callies
1985-86 [not known]
1987 Berea Park 1-0 Jeppe Quandon
NB: PSAR = Pretoria South African Railway; they were renamed
Berea Park FC in 1935
[*5] in the 1904 semifinals Rangers FC eliminated CSAR after a 2-2
draw in the first match, two more draws in replays, and a win
on a penalty in the third replay after two periods of extra time
Ward and Salomons Cup
1913 Germiston Callies FC 2-1 Knights Deep
1916 Germiston Callies FC 2-1 JSAR
1920 Germiston Callies FC 6-2 Jeppe Old Boys
1927 Germiston Callies FC 3-2 Arcadia Shepherds
1928 Germiston Callies FC 4-2 Arcadia Shepherds
1930 Germiston Callies FC 1-0 State Mines
1931 Germiston Callies FC 5-2 Johannesburg Callies
1933 JSAR 5-2 Germiston Callies FC [aet]
1934 Germiston Callies FC 2-0 Berea Park
1938 Germiston Callies FC 4-1 JSAR
1951 Germiston Callies FC 3-0 Arcadia Shepherds
1953 Berea Park 3-0 Germiston Callies FC
NB: missing winners not known
NRC Challenge Cup [NRC = Native Recruiting Corporation]
1920 Caledonians (Village Creek, Johannesburg) bt "Transvaal Champions"
1932 Simmer and Jack Natalians (Johannesburg) 5-0 Pretoria Callies
Griqualand West
The Griqualand West FA was formed in 1890 and by 1893 a Senior League
competition was under way.
Kimberley Senior League Challenge Cup
1893 Kenilworth Kimberley -
1894 Kenilworth Kimberley -
1895 Pirates Kimberley -
1896 United Mines Kimberley -
1897 United Mines Kimberley -
1898 United Mines Kimberley Kimberley Juniors
1899 United Mines Kimberley [no tournament]
1900 [no tournament] [no tournament]
Border
East London Senior League Frontier Challenge Shield
1894 - Queen's Park FC King Williamstown
1895 - Williamstown
1896 - Pioneers FC King Williamstown
1897 - Pioneers FC King Williamstown
1898 - Royal Berkshire Regiment
1899 Rangers FC East London Rangers FC East London
1900 Caledonians FC East London [no tournament]
Natal Province
The Natal Football Association was formed in 1882 and with it, a league
comprising four clubs, Pietermaritzburg County being joined by Natal
Wasps, Durban Alpha and Umgeni Stars. By the following year, the league
had grown to a strength of ten clubs.
The Natal Cup was presented to the Natal Football Association by
Mr E.L. St John Greaves in 1883.
Natal Football League
Season Winners Runners-up Third Place
1882-1904 not known
1905 Forfarshire Berea Park Glenwood
1906-51 not known
1952 Railway Queens Park Berea Park
1953 Railway Berea Park Queens Park
1954 not played?
1955 not known
1956 not played?
1957 Stella Railway Queens Park
1958 Fynnland
1959-60 not played?
1961 Addington Hoy Park Queens Park
1962 Durban Ramblers
1963-66 not played?
1967 Durban Municipals Escombe Parkhill
1968-70 not played?
1971 Hillary
1972 not played?
1973 not known
1974,1 Pinetown Stella Virginia United
1974,2 Durban United Maritzburg Pinetown
1975 Virginia United
1976 Stella
1977 Umbilo Stella
1978 Stella
1979 Stella
1980 Stella
1981 Juventus
1982 Pinetown
1983 Fynnland
1984 Escombe ?
1985 Fynnland
1986 Stella
1987 Fynnland Hillary
1988 Stella
1989 Juventus
1990 Stella
1991 not played?
1992 Umbilo
1993 Savages Ramblers Umbilo
Challenge Cup
1883 Natal Wasps FC Durban
1884 Natal Wasps FC Durban
1885 Natal Wasps FC Durban
1886 Natal Wasps FC Durban
1887 Victoria AC Durban
1888 Victoria AC Durban
1889 Victoria AC Durban
1890 Victoria AC Durban
1891 Victoria AC Durban
1892 Savages FC Pietermaritzburg
1893 Victoria AC Durban
1894 York and Lancaster Regiment (Pietermaritzburg)
1895 Standard Pietermaritzburg
1896 Queen's Park Durban
1897 Queen's Park Durban
1898 Leicestershire Regiment (Pietermaritzburg)
1899 Pirates Pietermaritzburg
1900 Pirates Pietermaritzburg
1901 Queen's Park Durban
1902 Etcetera Pietermaritzburg
1903 King's Royal Rifles (Harrismith)
1904 N.G.R. Durban
1905 Pirates Pietermaritzburg
1906 Berea Durban
1907 Berea Durban
1908 Thistle Durban
1909 N.G.R. Durban
1910 Wilts Pietermaritzburg
1911 Stella Durban or Etcetera Pietermaritzburg [0-0 draw, result replay n/a]
Oranje Vrijstaat (Orange Free State)
Bloemfontein Senior League Challenge Cup
1895 - Heilbron FC [*]
1896 Rangers FC Bloemfontein Heilbron FC
1897 Rangers FC Bloemfontein Jagersfontein FC
1898 Railway Bloemfontein Heilbron FC
1899 Railway Bloemfontein Jagersfontein FC
1900 [no tournament] [no tournament]
[*] 4 participants including, apart from Heilbron FC, newly founded Ramblers (Bloemfontein)
Eastern Province
Port Elizabeth Senior League
1899 Caledonians East London
1900 Wanderers Port Elizabeth
The NFL was the traditional 'white' league, which folded in 1977. In the 1960s, a 'black' league, the NPSL was formed, which established a national professional league in 1970 after previous unsuccessful attempts (various regional league were organised before). Also in the 1960s, the 'coloured' and Indian communities set up the SASL, which did not last very long and was succeeded by the FPL at the end of the decade. When the NFL folded, most of its clubs joined the NPSL, though some (like Durban City) preferred joining the FPL until realising the crowds were elsewhere. In 1984, a rival NPSL split off following boardroom politics, upon which the major federation continued as NSL. The 'new' NPSL soon fizzled out, and the NSL also 'swallowed' the rival FPL in 1991. In 1996 the NSL changed into the PSL, when adopting the English August-May 'calendar'.
year NFL (whites) SASL (coloureds)
1959 Durban City
1960 Highlands Park
1961 Durban City Transvaal United
1962 Highlands Park Avalon Athletic
1963 Addington Avalon Athletic
1964 Highlands Park Black Swallows
1965 Highlands Park Moroka Swallows
1966 Highlands Park Maritzburg City
1967 Port Elizabeth City Verulam Suburbs
1968 Highlands Park
year NFL FPL (coloureds)
1969 Durban Spurs Verulam Suburbs
1970 Durban City Cape Town Spurs
year NFL NPSL (blacks) FPL
NPSL Castle League Mainstay League
1971 Hellenic Orlando Pirates Cape Town Spurs
1972 Durban City AmaZulu Glenville
1973 Cape Town City Orlando Pirates Cape Town Spurs
1974 Arcadia Shepherds Kaizer Chiefs Cape Town Spurs
1975 Highlands Park Orlando Pirates Berea
1976 Cape Town City Orlando Pirates Cape Town Spurs
Datsun League
1977 Highlands Park Kaizer Chiefs Swaraj United
year NPSL FPL
NPSL Castle League FPL Castle League
1978 Lusitano Club Durban City
Seven Seas League
1979 Kaizer Chiefs Cape Town Spurs
1980 Highlands Park Glenville
1981 Kaizer Chiefs Cape Town Spurs
1982 Durban City Glendene
1983 Durban City Lightbody's Santos
1984 Kaizer Chiefs Lightbody's Santos
year NSL NPSL FPL OK (feeder NSL)
NSL Castle League NPSL League Quindrink League
1985 Bush Bucks Swaraj United QwaQwa Stars
La Mercy Beach League
1986 Rangers Vaal Professionals Lightbody's Santos Leeds United
1987 Jomo Cosmos Vaal Professionals Lightbody's Santos Cape Town Spurs
1988 Mamelodi Sundowns Vaal Professionals Lightbody's Santos Giant Blackpool
1989 Kaizer Chiefs Real Sweepers Battswood Umtata Bucks
1990 Mamelodi Sundowns De Beers Lightbody's Santos African Wanderers
1991 Kaizer Chiefs Oriental Spurs dissolved Cape Town Spurs
1992 Kaizer Chiefs Arcadia Shepherds Vaal Professionals
1993 Mamelodi Sundowns Real Rovers
1994 Orlando Pirates African Wanderers
1995 Cape Town Spurs Witbank All Stars
year Coca Cola Challenge
1996 Kaizer Chiefs [transitional single round robin season]
year PSL
1996/97 Manning Rangers
1997/98 Mamelodi Sundowns
1998/99 Mamelodi Sundowns
1999/00 Mamelodi Sundowns
2000/01 Orlando Pirates
2001/02 Santos (Cape Town)
2002/03 Orlando Pirates
2003/04 Kaizer Chiefs
2004/05 Kaizer Chiefs
2005/06 Mamelodi Sundowns
2006/07 Mamelodi Sundowns
2007/08 SuperSport United
2008/09 SuperSport United
2009/10 SuperSport United
2010/11 Orlando Pirates
2011/12 Orlando Pirates
2012/13 Kaizer Chiefs
2013/14 Mamelodi Sundowns
2014/15 Kaizer Chiefs
2015/16 Mamelodi Sundowns
2016/17 Bidvest Wits University
2017/18 Mamelodi Sundowns
2018/19 Mamelodi Sundowns
2019/20 Mamelodi Sundowns
2020/21 Mamelodi Sundowns
2021/22 Mamelodi Sundowns
2022/23 Mamelodi Sundowns
2023/24 Mamelodi Sundowns
2024/25
Number of NPSL/NSL/PSL championships (53; since 1971)
17 Mamelodi Sundowns
12 Kaizer Chiefs (does not include 1996 transitional league)
9 Orlando Pirates
3 SuperSport United
2 Durban City (also won 4 NFL championships)
1 AmaZulu
Bidvest Wits University
Bush Bucks
Cape Town Spurs
Highlands Park (also won 8 NFL championships)
Jomo Cosmos
Lusitano
Manning Rangers (Durban)
Rangers (Johannesburg)
Santos (Cape Town)
Sources included: [iffhs], [Lit 65], [Sin 83], [Bak 96], [Bak 97], [Raa 02], newspaper "Natal Witness" (1911), http://www.todor66.com/football/Africa/South_Africa/index_Transvaal_Challenge_Cup.html, http://www.todor66.com/football/Africa/South_Africa/Natal/index.html
With many thanks to Mark Gleeson and Nevil Cohen for additional information
Prepared and maintained by Hans Schöggl, Neil Morrison, Ian King and Mikael Jönsson for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Authors: Hans Schöggl, Neil Morrison,
Ian King
and Mikael Jönsson
Last updated: 12 Oct 2024
(C) Copyright Hans Schöggl, Neil Morrison, Ian King, Mikael Jönsson and
RSSSF 1998/2024
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper
acknowledgement is given to the authors. All rights reserved.