With the game engulfed over Tendai Ndoro’s eligibility, the Urban Warriors were just happy to be back on the field after a lengthy layoff.
Usuthu continued with their promising start, but as much as they moved swiftly on the attack, the killer instinct in front of goal came up short.
This opened up opportunities for Ajax, which they duly conjured after Yannick Zakri found space in the box and forced Siyabonga Mbatha to a save with a pin-point header.
The Ivorian got goal side yet again after beating the offside trap off a defence-splitting pass, but he shot wide.
Ajax were forced to make an early change, with Toriq Losper coming off for Ndiviwe Mdabuka on 43 minutes.
The second half started off exactly the way it got off in the first, and after Mabhuti Khenyeza’s shot forced Jody February to a save, the opener finally sprung.
Mhlengi Cele beat two defenders before pulling a cut back for an easy finish past February after 50 minutes.
They looked for a second a minute later, but the drive from Khenyeza saw February to his best with a peach save.
A dejected Ajax went on the front foot again, but Zakri couldn’t beat Mbatha with his accurate reflexes.
Their misery didn’t last long as Rodrick Kabwe stepped up to convert the leveller from a superb free-kick minutes later.
The visitors looked to go ahead through Grant Margeman, but the youth international’s shot was cleared off the line.
Chances were filtering in at random at the midway point, especially for the visitors but they were constantly let down by abhorrent finishing.
They were pegged back once more, with the assistance of their own players when Siyanda Zwane tried to clear his lines, only to direct the effort into his own goal after 75 minutes.
The Urban Warriors nearly pulled themselves level from another free-kick situation, but this time Kabwe could only find the top of the crossbar.
It’s another bitter pill to swallow for the struggling Cape Town outfit, as their relegation woes continues.