Burnley forward Lyle Foster gave South Africa the lead 14 minutes into the first half. Uganda scored in quick succession from Denis Omedi and Rogers Mato in the 51st and 53rd minute to reverse their fortunes.

However, Mbatha, a second-half substitute, scored the equalizer for South Africa five minutes into injury time. 

South Africa are third of Group K with a single point while Congo are top after beating South Sudan 1-0 on Thursday.

DR Congo went top of Group H with a narrow 1-0 victory over Guinea, courtesy of a 27th-minute goal from midfielder Edo Kayembe.

In Group E, Liberia's William Gibson, coming off the bench, scored a header in injury time to level the score after Togo's Kévin Denkey had put his team ahead in the 78th minute.

Elsewhere, Sierra Leone and Chad played to a goalless draw in Group G, while Kenya and Zimbabwe also finished in a stalemate in Group J earlier in the day.

The top two teams from each of the 12 groups will advance to the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next year.

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