Moroka Swallows defeated SuperSport United 2-1 Wednesday to join them at the top of the South African Premiership table.

Edward Mnqele made it four goals in five league games to put the Soweto club ahead after seven minutes in Pretoria township Atteridgeville.

Veteran Siyabonga Nomvethe added a second for the visitors just before the hour mark and Ghanaian Edwin Gyimah reduced the arrears 18 minutes from time.

But three-time champions SuperSport could not score again and the slide after a three-victory start to the championship campaign continued.

Held at promoted Mpumalanga Black Aces last Sunday, United have taken only one point from a possible six, but stay top on goal difference.

SuperSport, Swallows and AmaZulu have 10 points after five rounds, Platinum Stars nine, and Mamelodi Sundowns, Wits University, title-holders Kaizer Chiefs and Free State Stars eight each.

CAF Champions League commitments meant Orlando Pirates were playing only their second game and they scraped a 1-0 win over bottom side Polokwane City in Soweto.

With his attackers making no impression against a massed defence backed by outstanding former Botswana goalkeeper Modiri Marumo, defender Rooi Mahamutsa rescued the 'Buccaneers'.

The centre-back took the ball across a defender just outside the box before unleashing a low shot into the corner of the net.

There was no way back for promoted Polokwane, who fired coach Duncan Lechesa Monday after four consecutive losses.

His place was taken by Eduardo Schoeler, the physical trainer of the team, with pundits already predicting the young Brazilian will have an equally short reign.

It was the first of three games in seven days for Pirates -- they face Champions League title-holders Al-Ahly of Egypt Sunday and arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs 48 hours later.

Platinum, runners-up behind Chiefs last season, overcame Pretoria University 1-0 in north-west mining town Rustenburg.

Siphelele Mthembu was set up by captain Vuyo Mere for the match-winner on the stroke of half-time and impressive Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi prevented a heavier defeat.

Maritzburg United bounced back after being outplayed by Chiefs last weekend to overcome promoted Black Aces 2-0 in KwaZulu Natal capital Pietermaritzburg.

A whirlwind start saw United score twice within six minutes through a shot from debutant Ayanda Nkosi and a header from Mario Booysen.

Aces were reduced to 10 men when Sandile Zuke was red carded for a studs-up challenge 30 minutes into the match.

And the visitors had only nine players for part of the second half as the shirt number of Mabhuti Khenyeza fell off and had to be replaced using a pen.

Ghanaian Abdul Basit Adam claimed his third league goal of the season for Free State Stars with an early header that sank Golden Arrows 1-0 in Durban.