In 1971–1977, due to the country's apartheid policies, the league was only contested by teams made up of black players.
In 1978, the NPSL merged with the National Football League (NFL), which previously had been organised only for White South African players in 1959–1977.
In January 1985, Kaizer Chiefs owner Kaizer Motaung lodged a complaint that it was unfair that 10% of revenue from a testimonial match for Ace Ntsoelengoe and Jomo Sono was expected to go to various administrative bodies including SANFA.
Several clubs question the conflicts of interest for George Thabe to be the president of the NPLS and SANFA at the same time.
In February 1985, it was announced that the clubs wanting to break away had arranged sponsorship with South African Breweries, the existing sponsor of NPSL, and a newly created National Soccer League (NSL) would begin on 23 February in accordance with anti-apartheid principles.