Swallows FC will hold onto their DStv Premiership status after a hard-fought 1-0 victory against the University of Pretoria at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in the final match of the promotion/relegation playoffs on Wednesday.
The Dube Birds, who finished second from bottom in the 2021/22 campaign, had to vie for a place to compete in South Africa's top-flight league in home and away fixtures against Tuks and Cape Town All Stars.
Swallows secured their passage to the Premiership with two victories, one defeat and a draw.
29 May: Cape Town All Stars 1-3 University of Pretoria
1 June: Swallows FC 2-1 Cape Town All Stars
4 June: University of Pretoria 0-0 Swallows FC
8 June: University of Pretoria 1-1 Cape Town All Stars
11 June: Cape Town All Stars 2-1 Swallows FC
15 June: Swallows FC 1-0 University of Pretoria
Heading into the final fixture, Tuks only needed a draw to advance to the Premiership and held on for 61 minutes before Swallows broke the deadlock.
Cape Town-born defender Yagan Sasman scored the only goal of the encounter after sloppy defending from Tuks that earned Swallows the rights to play in the Premiership.
Tuks and Cape Town All Stars miss the chance to join fellow GladAfrica Championship side Richards Bay FC, who won the division crown and automatically advanced to the Premiership for the 2022/23 campaign.