Mamelodi Sundowns moved six points clear at the top of the Betway Premiership table after defeating Richards Bay FC 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Ronwen Williams and Khuliso Mudau missed out, as Masandawana recalled Denis Onyango, Terrence Mashego, Bathusi Aubaas Kobamelo Kodisang, Arthur Sales and named in-form striker Iqraam Rayners on the bench.
Sundowns got the host stretchered at the back with Morena from right to cut inside and looked for the tricky runs in the tight spaces made by Lucas Ribeiro.
Sales, who haven't had a settled tenure at the club since joining, opened up his account near the half-hour mark when he sneaked in-behind to roll in a perfectly timed through pass.
Richards Bay seeked to hit back instantly where the overlapping run on the right-side by Lwandile Mabuya caught Masandawana in some bother, but Onyango was on hand to save the day with a good save at the near post.
The Natal Rich Boys continued going at the reigning champions and camped extensively in the opposite half through Moses Mthembu, Yanela Mbuthuma and Mabuya.
After halftime, Mbuthuma was inches away from wiping out the defending champions' advantage when his first-time header bounced off the crossbar and back into play.
Richards Bay continued to push an equaliser buoyed the Mbuthuma effort, but Masandawana were aware of the danger and guarded their lines very well.
Masandawana shifted to the bench in a quest to revive their stall and introduced Rayners and Tashreeq Morries for Sales and Kobamelo Kodisang respectively.
The big-spending visitors made the tie safe around the closing stages when Ribeiro got out on the far side of the box and lashed in from a tight angle for his sixth league goal of the season.
Sundowns were in clear control from this moment on with no danger provided by the home team and ended the year on top of the table.
Confirmed line-ups:
Richards Bay: Magoola, Mabuya, Allan, Mcineka, Ndaba, Mthethwa, Gumede, Zikhali, Mthembu, Ntsundwana, Mbuthuma.
Subs: Otieno, Mabua, Ntlonelo, Dlamini, Dube, Kutumela Ndelu, Radebe, Figareido.
Mamelodi Sundowns: Onyango, Mashego, Aubaas, Kekana, Modiba, Khoza, Mokoena, Ribeiro, Kodisang, Morena, Sales
Subs: February, De Reuck, Lunga, Maboe, Maema, Matthews, Lethakhu, Rayners, Shalulile