1996–97 National First Division

The 1996–97 National First Division was the 1st season of the second tier of South African soccer since the reorganisation in 1996.

It consisted of 76 clubs in four streams; Northern, Southern, Western Cape and Natal/Eastern Cape, with the winners being Black Leopards, (Northern), Tembisa Classic (Southern), Santos (Western Cape) and African Wanderers (Natal/Eastern Cape) respectively.

At the end of the season, the division was reduced to two stream of 20 teams each.