The 2024/25 SAFA ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs semi-finals draw was marred by controversy after the last round of group stage matches played on Friday, 4 July 2025.
There was only one game between The Bees FC [Mpumalanga] and Zizwe United [Western Cape], a match which was supposed to be played on Thursday, 3 July, at 3 PM at the Giant Stadium in Soshanguve.
However, a severe water shortage that affected the City of Tshwane forced the match to be postponed, with the local municipality citing that the situation would pose a health risk at Giant Stadium due to the water problems affecting the region, preventing the showdown from proceeding.
The important tie between the Bees and Zizwe was then rescheduled to Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville. The match kicked off at 10 AM on Friday.
The match ended in a 1-0 scoreline in favour of the Mpumalanga side, the Bees, who came into this encounter having already qualified for the semi-finals.
Zizwe, however, needed at least a draw or a win against the Bees to advance to the tournament’s last four.
THE ABC MOTSEPE LEAGUE NATIONAL PLAYOFFS SEMI-FINALS DRAW DISRUPTED
After the Bees and Zizwe match, SAFA officials had an urgent meeting to determine who would go to the semi-finals between Zizwe and Midlands Wanderers of KZN. Both teams finished with one point each in Group A.
The meeting lasted more than two hours, as they had to wait for Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe to arrive and clarify the amended rules of the competition.
When the draw was about to be conducted, the chairman and head coach of the KZN side, Wanderers Masenti Myeni, raised a dispute.
According to SAFA, Zizwe had secured a semi-final spot due to disciplinary rules, as Zizwe and Wanderers finished the playoffs with one point and one goal each. The amended rules for the competition stated that “the best runner-up will be determined by the first group matches played.” In the first game, the two sides played out to a 1-1 draw.
The draw had to be adjourned to address the dispute raised by Wanderers, which took about two hours. SAFA then decided to adjourn the meeting to make some consultations. The draw will be conducted after the meeting between SAFA, Wanderers, and Zizwe resumes.
The teams that have qualified for this year’s national playoffs semi-finals are Thames [North West], The Bees [Mpumalanga], and Gomora United [Gauteng].
Both matches of the semi-finals will be broadcast live on SABC Sport. The semis will be played on Saturday, 5 July, at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
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