As champions of Division B, Western Transvaal qualified to the semi-finals of the main Currie Cup competition, where they met Division A runners-up Western Province.
At the end of September 1989, the South African Rugby Board announced that South West Africa would not play in the 1990 Currie Cup competition and that Western Transvaal would be automatically promoted.
[19] Despite suggestions that South West Africa would be allowed back into the Currie Cup,[20] South West Africa later voluntarily withdrew, due to uncertainty arising from Namibia gaining independence.
[21] In the relegation play-offs, Eastern Free State conceded the second leg to Boland, who won promotion to the Currie Cup Division B.
Eastern Free State were initially relegated, but due to the Currie Cup Division B's expansion to 8 teams, they eventually retained their place.