Northern Gauteng: Northerns and Easterns (based in Centurion) Southern Gauteng: Gauteng and North West (based in Johannesburg) Kwa-Zulu Natal: Based in Durban Western Cape: Western Province and Boland (based in Cape Town) Eastern Cape: Eastern Province and Border (based in East London) Central: Free State and Griqualand West (based in Bloemfontein)

The United Cricket Board of South Africa had acted to ensure the long-term financial viability of domestic cricket in the country.

The result, it says, will be improved overall quality and a commitment to lift amateur cricket at all levels.

Ray Mali, the president of the UCBSA, said he was satisified partnerships had been forged to form the new sides.

However, Free State and Griqualand West were unable to come to an agreement to form the new Central team.

The UCB was forced to create it, giving a 55% "shareholding" to Free State with the remainder going to Griqualand West, and dictating that the team be based in Bloemfontein.

Border's home ground of East London got the nod ahead of Test venue Port Elizabeth to host the Eastern Cape side.

The UCB has also taken the opportunity to re-introduce a quota system, saying 40% of all contracted players must be black.

A minimum of four "players of colour" must be on the field for any given match.

Sixteen teams, made up of the current 11 provinces and five new sides, will play a secondary, amateur competition and act as feeder teams.

The new competition follows the example of rugby's Super 12 competition, which merges provincial sides into sides without city names (South Africa's are the Sharks, Cats, Stormers and Bulls).

It will also leave South Africa with the same number of first-class sides as arch-rivals Australia.