Tembisa - A goal in each half by Pater Shalulile secured a 2-0 play-off win for Highlands Park over Mbombela United, the club now looking forward to life in the Absa Premiership. With three wins from three matches in the play-offs, the Lions of the North clinched promotion with one game to spare.
Mbombela United and the University of Pretoria are meanwhile condemned to playing in the National First Division (NFD) next season. The Gauteng side had finished second in the NFD last season, only their second campaign in South African football's second tier.
Mbombela made a promising start to the game at a packed Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa, although they failed to test Highlands Park keeper Tapuwa Kapini.
Instead, it was the home side who were to make their first chance on goal count, Shalulile putting the ball into an empty net on 12 minutes after Mbombela keeper Thato Xaba had gifted the Namibian international the ball on the edge of the area.
A series of chances followed, but Jose Garcia went wide from range for the home side before Thabo Mphahleni's half volley on 15 minutes swerved just wide of goal.
There was a double chance on 22 minutes, but Lebo Maboe's effort was saved at the near post before Inky Masuku fired wide from the rebound for Tingwenyama.
It was the Lions of the North though who ended the half strongly, Mothobi Mvala having his 29th minute effort cleared off the line before Garcia headed straight at Xaba after an inviting cross from Simphiwe Tshabalala, while Shalulile was not far off with a speculative effort.
The hosts had the first chances after the break, Nicholas Boke forcing a 50th minute save out of Xaba before Mvala headed wide and then Boke wasted a great chance when he fired wide at the back post after Shalulile's effort was deflected into his path.
Mbombela remained in the game as they displayed some purpose in attack, an equalizer a possibility, but Kapini remained untested in the home goal.
With eight minutes to go Shalulile wrapped up proceedings when he went on a superb solo run through the middle of the Mbombela defence, beating two defenders before calmly slotting the ball past Xaba to book his club's place in the Absa Premiership for next season - African News Agency (ANA)