It was a bright start to the game for the visitors, though Thabo Nodada’s sixth-minute attempt lacked venom, and Veli Mothwa handled it comfortably.
Augustine Kwem headed wide in the eleventh minute, while Khanyisa Mayo forced another save from Mothwa three minutes later.
Keagan Buchanan’s well-struck effort in the 20th minute needed Hugo Marques to make a fine save, while Keanu Cupido’s header in the 34th minute hit the side-netting.
City were in front two minutes later. Khanyisa Mayo doing well to finish off Darwin Gonazalez’s cross under pressure. 1-0 in the 36th minute.
AmaZulu were level in the 41st minute, Augustine Kwem racing clear and chipping over the advancing Marques.
While City were the team in control of possession, and showing the initiative, they found themselves trailing early in the second half as Usuthu went in front in the 52nd minute, Gabadinho Mhango scoring a great long-range effort that left Marques with no chance.
Kajally Drammeh tried a long-range effort in the 54th minute, but Mothwa saved comfortably, while substitute Mpho Makola shot wide in the 78th minute. A minute later Marques saved from Kwem, after a defensive slip almost allowed AmaZulu another.
Makola’s stoppage time long-range attempt caused Mothwa problems, but the Usuthu keeper was able to punch clear. Seconds later Makola was shown a red card for a studs-up tackle.
AmaZulu move up to second, while City who finished second last season, slumped to a third successive defeat and are bottom of the table, the only team in the league yet to pick up a point.
Earlier in the evening, newly promoted Richards Bay beat ten-man Sekhukhune United 1-0 and moved back to the top of the table. Yanela Mbuthuma scored the winning goal in the second half for the Natal Rich Boyz.