Kaizer Chiefs trumped rivals Orlando Pirates in the Soweto derby at the FNB to end their five-game winless streak in the league.
The sole goal came from a brilliant overhead kick by Samir Nurkovic early in the second half.
With seven players missing, Gavin Hunt had little option but to risk involving injury-doubt Leonardo Castro. Despite the severe depletion in Amakhosi ranks, the first half was marked by a certain derby mojo in their game.
The Chiefs almost got to a flawless start when Bernard Parker unleashed a shot that whiskered above the bar.
Again, Parker was in the midst of the action in the 20th minute, his pass freeing Happy Mashiane for a fraction of a second inside the box. The South Africa U23 international, however, failed to inject power in his effort and Siyabonga Mpontshane saved.
Another incisive attack twenty minutes later saw Parker slap a low ball from the right towards penalty-fox Nurkovic, but Hlatshwayo intercepted heroically at the last moment.
The Chiefs took their dangerous incisiveness into the second-half and were soon rewarded.
Seven minutes after the break, a corner from the left caused havoc in the Pirates ranks with Nurkovic using his body to shield the ball and unleashing an acrobatic overhead kick over Mpontshane, 1-0 to the Chiefs!
Stung Pirates started pushing players forward, leaving space behind their defence.
In the 68th, a lapse of concentration for the Amakhosi gave Makaringe a chance to shoot from a close range, but his shot flew wide with Daniel Akpeyi heaving a sigh of relief.
Then, the Amakhosi received a golden opportunity to end the game when Mashiange set Nurkovic free for one-on-one with Akpeyi, but the Serbian lost his nerve and skied the ball.
The Pirates immediately swung the ball to the other end, and Kabelo Dlamini released a menacing shot from the edge of the box only for Akpeyi to dive brilliantly.
With time running out, Pirates kept piling players forward but were met by unyielding Chiefs.
The Bucs received one last chance to make their mark on the game when the referee awarded a free-kick for a nasty Siyabonga Ngezana late tackle on Gabadinho Mhango. However, the shot was blocked by the wall and, with that hope for the Pirates evaporated.
The Chiefs would be extremely satisfied with their effort here. The win saw them take the ninth spot in the league, while Pirates remain stuck fourth and one step further away from the title.