Fares Hachi started against his former club, while Brian Onyango made his debut for Sundowns against his former employers, with captain Hlompho Kekana given a return to the starting eleven.
Sundowns pinned the host back in the first few minutes, with Themba Zwane forcing Sebastian Mwange to a save before Lebohang Maboe volleyed wide from the area.
Masandawana should've been in front on 18 minutes through Peter Shalulile after good initiative from Zwane, but a timeous goal-line clearance from Nazeer Allie kept the scores down.
The Team of Choice responded minutes later when a ball out wide from Kwanda Mngonyama landed to Thabiso Kutumela, who brought Denis Onyango to a smart save with a low shot.
Sundowns went ahead on 32 minutes after Zwane got on the end of a ball across the face of goal from Shalulile to tap in at the back-post.
Kutumela issued the visitors another warning after cutting into the edge of the area for a curling strike seven minutes later, but went wide of target.
Ernst Middendorp made two substitutions following the restart, as former Sundowns attacker Jose Ali Meza came on for Phumlani Ntshangase.
As Sundowns continued their dominance from the first half, United suffered a set-back 54 minutes in as Mwange couldn't carry on playing and was subsequently replaced by Jethren Barr.
The Team of Choice clawed themselves level on 60 minutes when Mngonyama leaped high in the area to head in a pin-point corner-kick from Daniel Morgan.
Kekana nearly restored Masandawana's in blistering fashion after slamming the gloves of Barr with a thumping strike outside the area before fulltime.
Kutumela was close to handing United the winner in the final five minutes from a diagonal ball out wide, but Onyango managed to smother, as it finished all square as the hosts picked up their first point of the season.
Maritzburg: Mwange, Allie, Morgan, Hachi, De Reuck, Ntshangase, Mngonyama, Claasen, Buchanan, Moseamadi, Kutumela
Subs: Barr, Ismail, Sanoka, Hlubi, Graham, Shandu, Bongo-Mbourou, Meza, Tlolane
Sundowns: Onyango, Morena, Lakay, Nascimento, Onyango, Jali, Kekana, Maboe, Erasmus, Zwane, Shalulile.
Subs: Goss, Mudau, Lebusa, Kapinga, Margeman, Soumahoro, Domingo, Mvala,Maluleka.