History
The first non-racial Second Level of South African football, was established in March 1987 as the OK League. This league served as the competing place, for promotion/relegation to and from the topflight NSL. In the former years from 1978–1986, a topflight non-racial First Level had already been established, after the merger of the NFL and NPSL, to form the new common topflight NPSL. In the early years from 1978–1986 relegation/promotion to and from the topflight league, according to official records actually did happen, but apparently it happened from a Second Level league structure, still divided into whites/blacks/coloureds.
When the new topflight Premier Soccer League was established in 1996, the organizers at the same time for the Second Level, replaced the former OK League with the new National First Division. Apart from being covered by a better sponsor deal, the most significant change -both at the First and Second Level- was to change the fixtures from yearly seasons, into the more Internationally adapted: September–May football season.
The first sponsors were United Bank who sponsored the league in 1997 and 1998. From November 1998 until the end of the 2001/2001 season, the league was sponsored by MTN. It was reported that MTN withdrew from sponsorship the First Division as they were unhappy with their treatment from the PSL - the division organisers, MTN had been rebuffed by the PSL in their efforts to sponsor the PSL-run Charity Cup because Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs would refuse to play in the tournament as the two clubs were sponsored by MTN's telecommunication rivals, Vodacom. The First Division could not find a new sponsor until May 2004.
From 2004 until 2007 the league was sponsored by business magnate Tokyo Sexwale's Mvelaphanda Group and known as Mvela Golden League. For those three seasons, there was no geographical split and all 16 teams played in one division. The league has been unable to find a sponsor since 2007.
In regards of all other previous seasons, there was a geographical split into two or four streams. Recently it was however announced, that the National First Division has decided to re-introduce the structure with no geographical split, for the 2011–12 season.
| Streams | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Western Cape | Natal/Eastern/Cape | Northern | Southern |
| Winner | Winner | Winner | Winner | |
| 1996/97 | Santos | African Wanderers | Black Leopards | Tembisa Classic |
| Streams | ||||
| Year | Coastal | Inland | ||
| Winner | Runner-up | Winner | Runner-up | |
| 1997/98 | Seven Stars | Michau Warriors | Dynamos | Witbank Aces |
| 1998/99 | African Wanderers | Avendale Athletico | Tembisa Classic | Ria Stars |
| 1999/00 | Golden Arrows | Avendale Athletico | Ria Stars | Dynamos |
| 2000/01 | Amazulu | Park United | Black Leopards | Bloemfontein Young Tigers |
| 2001/02 | African Wanderers | Avendale Athletico | Dynamos | Silver Stars |
| 2002/03 | AmaZulu | Premier United | Silver Stars | Bloem Celtic |
| 2003/04 | Bush Bucks | Avendale Athletico | Bloemfontein Celtic | Free State Stars |
| National | ||||
| Winner | Runner-up | Third place | Fourth place | |
| 2004/05 | Free State Stars | Durban Stars | Hellenic F.C. | Tembisa Classic |
| 2005/06 | Wits University | City Pillars | Vasco Da Gama | Benoni Premier United |
| 2006/07 | Free State Stars | Winners Park | Pretoria University | FC AK |
| Streams | ||||
| Year | Coastal | Inland | ||
| Winner | Runner-up | Winner | Runner-up | |
| 2007/08 | Maritzburg United | Bay United | FC AK | Dynamos |
| 2008/09 | Carara Kicks | FC Cape Town | Jomo Cosmos | Mpumalanga Black Aces |
| 2009/10 | Vasco Da Gama | Nathi Lions | Black Leopards | African Warriors |
| 2010/11 | Bay United | Thanda Royal Zulu | Jomo Cosmos | Black Leopards |
| National | ||||
| Winner | Runner-up | Third place | Fourth place | |
| 2011/12 | Pretoria University F.C. | Chippa United F.C. | Thanda Royal Zulu F.C. | Blackburn Rovers |
| Promoted to PSL | Playoff losers |
- Notes
Read more about this topic: National First Division
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