[1][2] Free State and Northern Cape were the defending champions, after the title was shared due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
[4] Initially the tournament was to be played between the fifteen South African provincial teams, split into two groups.
[1] However, after the tournament restarted in February 2021, Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed that the South Africa under-19 cricket team would also be included in the competition.
[5][6] CSA issued a revised schedule for the tournament, with all the matches being held in a bio-secure environment.
[7] Matches involving either Limpopo, Mpumalanga or the South Africa under-19 team did not have List A status.