The South African Premiership, also known as the Betway Premiership for sponsorship reasons, and commonly referred to as the PSL after its governing body, 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.
Orlando Pirates F.C. are the current champions, winning the 2025–26 South African Premiership, breaking Mamelodi Sundowns' eight year winning streak. This marked their fifth league title in the PSL era and their 10th overall. This also marks their first league title since the 2011–12 season.
History
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.
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, 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.
On 24 September 2020, DStv were announced as the new sponsor, with the league being rebranded as the DStv Premiership. 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.
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.
CEOs Trevor Phillips: 1996–1998 Joe Ndlela: 1998–2000 Robin Petersen: 2000–2001 (resigned) Trevor Phillips: 2002–2007 Kjetil Siem: 2007–2011 Zola Majavu: 2011 (resigned) Stanley Matthews: 2012 (resigned) Cambridge Mokanyane: 2013 (acting) Brand de Villers: 2013–2015 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
Rank Association 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 Total 2025 2024 Mvt CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC11 —837482.57710422 —469582245534 +182544341.59343 -1657165235556 +130.50234602465 -14351426130.578 +110502031.52287 -1400312402099 —30303020301011 +100010330121110 -100.50500.503001212 —0200020201
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)
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, whilst 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. 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.
Previous winners, runners-up, relegated and promoted teams SeasonWinnerRunner-upRelegatedPromoted to the following season1996–97Manning RangersKaizer ChiefsMichau Warriors, Witbank AcesSantos, African Wanderers1997–98Mamelodi SundownsOrlando PiratesAfrican Wanderers, Real RoversSeven Stars, Dynamos1998–99Kaizer ChiefsDynamos, Vaal ProfessionalsAfrican Wanderers, Tembisa Classic1999–2000Orlando PiratesAmaZulu, Mother CityGolden Arrows, Ria Stars2000–01Orlando PiratesKaizer ChiefsBloemfontein Celtic, African WanderersAmaZulu, Black Leopards2001–02SantosSuperSport UnitedAmaZulu, Thembisa ClassicAfrican Wanderers, Dynamos2002–03Orlando Pirates (2)SuperSport UnitedUmtata Bush Bucks, African WanderersAmaZulu, Silver Stars2003–04Kaizer ChiefsAjax Cape TownHellenic, Zulu RoyalsBush Bucks, Bloemfontein Celtic2004–05Orlando PiratesManning Rangers, Wits UniversityFree State Stars, Tembisa Classic2005–06Mamelodi Sundowns (5)Free State Stars, Bush BucksWits University, Benoni Premier United2006–07Platinum StarsMaritzburg UnitedFree State Stars2007–08SuperSport UnitedAjax Cape TownBlack Leopards, Jomo CosmosMaritzburg United, Bay United2008–09Orlando PiratesBay United, Thanda Royal ZuluJomo Cosmos, Mpumalanga Black Aces2009–10Mamelodi Sundowns Jomo CosmosVasco da Gama2010–11Orlando Pirates (3)Ajax Cape TownMpumalanga Black Aces, Vasco da GamaJomo Cosmos, Black Leopards2011–12Moroka SwallowsSantos, Jomo CosmosUniversity of Pretoria, Chippa United2012–13Kaizer Chiefs (3)Platinum StarsChippa United, Black LeopardsMpumalanga Black Aces, Polokwane City2013–14Mamelodi Sundowns (6)Kaizer ChiefsGolden ArrowsChippa United2014–15Kaizer Chiefs (4)Mamelodi SundownsMoroka Swallows, AmaZuluGolden Arrows, Jomo Cosmos2015–16Mamelodi Sundowns (7)Bidvest WitsJomo Cosmos, University of PretoriaBaroka, Highlands Park2016–17Bidvest WitsMamelodi SundownsHighlands ParkAmaZulu2017–18Mamelodi Sundowns (15)Orlando PiratesAjax Cape Town, Platinum StarsHighlands Park, Black Leopards2018–19Free State StarsStellenbosch2019–20Kaizer ChiefsPolokwane CityMoroka Swallows2020–21AmaZuluBlack LeopardsSekhukhune United2021–22Cape Town CityBarokaRichards Bay2022–23Orlando PiratesMarumo Gallants, Maritzburg UnitedPolokwane City, Cape Town Spurs2023–24Orlando PiratesCape Town SpursMagesi2024–25Orlando PiratesCape Town CityDurban City Orbit College2025–26Orlando Pirates (5)Mamelodi SundownsOrbit College, MagesiKruger United, Milford
League titles by club TeamTitlesYears Mamelodi Sundowns 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25 Orlando Pirates 2000–01, 2002–03, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2025–26 Kaizer Chiefs 2003–04, 2004–05, 2012–13, 2014–15 SuperSport United 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10 Manning Rangers 1 1996–97 Santos 2001–02 Bidvest Wits 2016–17
Manager records
League winning managers
+Season(s)Winner(s)Manager(s) 1996–97 Manning Rangers Gordon Igesund 1997–98 Mamelodi Sundowns Ted Dumitru 1998–99 1999–00 Paul Dolezar 2000–01 Orlando Pirates Gordon Igesund (2) 2001–02 Santos 2002–03 Orlando Pirates Roy Barreto 2003–04 Kaizer Chiefs Ted Dumitru (4) 2004–05 2005–06 Mamelodi Sundowns Neil Tovey & Miguel Gamondi2006–07 Gordon Igesund (4) 2007–08 SuperSport United Gavin Hunt 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 Orlando Pirates Ruud Krol 2011–12 Augusto Palacios 2012–13 Kaizer Chiefs Stuart Baxter 2013–14 Mamelodi Sundowns Pitso Mosimane 2014–15 Kaizer Chiefs Stuart Baxter (2) 2015–16 Mamelodi Sundowns Pitso Mosimane 2016–17 Bidvest Wits Gavin Hunt (4) 2017–18 Mamelodi Sundowns Pitso Mosimane (5) 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 Manqoba Mngqithi & Rhulani Mokwena 2021–22 Manqoba Mngqithi (2) & Rhulani Mokwena 2022–23 Rhulani Mokwena (4) 2023–24 2024–25 Miguel Cardoso2025–26Orlando Pirates Abdeslam Ouaddou
Most successful managers
+ Winning managersManager(s)Club(s)Win(s)Winning year(s) Pitso MosimaneMamelodi Sundowns (5)5 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20 Ted DumitruMamelodi Sundowns (2), Kaizer Chiefs (2)41997–98, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2004–05 Gavin HuntSuperSport United (3), Bidvest Wits42007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2016–17 Gordon Igesund Manning Rangers, Orlando Pirates, Santos, Mamelodi Sundowns41996–97, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2006–07 Rhulani Mokwena Mamelodi Sundowns (4)42020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 Stuart Baxter Kaizer Chiefs (2)22012–13, 2014–15 Manqoba Mngqithi Mamelodi Sundowns (2)22020–21, 2021–22 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. 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 Gavin Hunt and 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 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.
League records Ever presents: Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates