Casric Stars Secure KwaMhlanga Home Base in Major Boost for Mpumalanga Football
Motsepe Foundation Championship side Casric Stars will play their home matches at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium during the 2026/27 season after the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality announced a landmark lease agreement with the club on Wednesday.
The municipality revealed the development in a Facebook post, describing the partnership as a significant milestone for football development, economic growth and community upliftment in the region.
Under the agreement, Casric Stars will host 15 league and cup matches at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium during the 2026/27 campaign. Combined with the five home fixtures already scheduled to be played at the venue by Betway Premiership club TS Galaxy, KwaMhlanga is set to stage a total of 20 high-profile domestic football matches this season.
The municipality believes the increased football activity will deliver benefits beyond the pitch. Officials say hosting top-flight and Motsepe Foundation Championship fixtures is expected to stimulate the local economy by attracting visitors, creating employment opportunities, boosting tourism and providing increased business opportunities for local vendors on match days.
To support the agreement, the municipality said upgrades to Solomon Mahlangu Stadium and safety compliance measures have already been prioritised to ensure the facility continues to meet Premier Soccer League (PSL) requirements.
Casric Stars Secure KwaMhlanga Home Base in Major Boost for Mpumalanga Football (Image: Thembisile Hani Local Municipality)
The club will be hoping that familiar surroundings can provide a competitive edge as they pursue their long-term ambition of securing promotion to the Betway Premiership at the end of the 2026/27 season.
The municipality also emphasised that community access to the stadium will remain unaffected despite the increase in professional fixtures. Grassroots football programmes and other community activities, including DStv Diski Challenge matches, will continue to be hosted at the venue alongside Casric Stars’ league and cup commitments.
With 20 elite football matches now confirmed for the season, municipal leaders believe the partnership will elevate KwaMhlanga’s profile on the South African football landscape while creating lasting social and economic benefits for the surrounding communities.
For Casric Stars, the agreement offers more than just a home ground – it provides a platform to grow their fan base, strengthen their promotion push and help establish KwaMhlanga as one of Mpumalanga’s emerging football hubs.