A second-half capitulation from Richards Bay saw them squander a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against Chippa United at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday night.
Two goals in the space of three minutes from Sakhile Hlongwa (22') and Somila Ntsundwana (25') put the Natal Rich Boyz in the driver's seat, but Etiosa Ighodaro pulled one back for Lehlohonolo Seema's side on 44 minutes, before Aviwe Mqokozo completed the comeback win with a second-half brace.
The KZN outfit continued their slide down the table to 13th place following a 12th game without a win, while the Chilli Boys halted an eight-match winless streak to give themselves hope of avoiding the drop.
Vasili Manousakis' team threatened to break the deadlock after just two minutes when Sanele Barns tested Lloyd Kazapua with a strike from range and they hit the front midway through the first half as Hlongwa made contact with the winger's cross to tuck his shot into the roof of the net.
One quickly became two after Ntsundwana glanced a header home at the near post from a 25th-minute corner to put the hosts firmly in the ascendancy.
Hlongwa almost struck again four minutes later when he forced Kazapua into a save after getting his head on the end of Barns' cross and it proved crucial as Ighodaro halved the deficit with a header just before halftime after being teed up by Ronaldo Maarman.
The goal gave Chippa renewed hope and they piled on the pressure in the second half, with Ighodaro drawing a save out of Malcolm Jacobs with a header on 67 minutes before Mqokozo also gave the goalkeeper some work to do with a strike from range moments later.
Mqokozo had the beating of Jacobs on 76 minutes though, when he fired home into the bottom left corner of the net from inside the box to draw the visitors level.
Worse was to follow for Richards Bay as Mqokozo pounced again seven minutes from time, picking out the other corner of the goal on this occasion after being set up by Ighodaro.
Both teams missed late chances, with Ighodaro dragging a shot just wide of the left post from range in the first minute of stoppage time before Ntsundwana wasted an opportunity to snatch a share of the spoils moments later when he steered a header past the right post.
Richards Bay (2) 2 (Hlongwa 22', Ntsundwana 25')
Chippa United (1) 3 (Ighodaro 44', Mqokozo 76, 83')
Richards Bay: M. Jacobs K. Maphathe, S. Mthethwa, S. Mcineka (K. Shabalala 68')), T. Mabua (R. Dlamini 46'), L. Mhlongo (A. Mabaso 75'), M. Mathebula, S. Barns, L. Memela (N. Mdabuka 83'), S. Ntsundwana, S. Hlongwa (S. Msani 83').
Chippa United: L. Kazapua, T. Makhele, J. Chabalala, M. Mathiane, A. Ntsabo, B. Poggenpoel (S. Mkhize 33'), A. Konqobe (M. Maphangule 60', J. September 90+3'), T. Lebitso, S. Luthuli (A. Mqokozo 60'), R. Maarman, D. Chauke (E. Ighodaro 33').