Arrows down Swallows in Durban
Captain Khuboni netted from the penalty spot after 13 minutes and forward Ntuli added a second in the 20th minute, before Luvhengo Mungomeni's late header set up a tense finish at the King Zwelithini Stadium.
However, the hosts held on for only their second win of the season to move off the foot of the table, while Swallows were knocked off the number one spot they held heading into the top versus bottom clash.
Arrows had made a bright start and were rewarded for their early running when Ntuli went over in the box.
Referee Zolile Mthetho awarded a spot kick that looked slightly harsh with the striker appearing to fall over under pressure from Larry Cohen and Rudi Isaacs but Khuboni made no mistake shooting high into the goal.
Abafana Bes'thende could have twice doubled their advantage in the moments after as Ntuli first nodded over a Philani Shange free-kick, before Dumsani Zwane was put clean through by a sweeping cross from Thembela Sikhakhane but again failed to guide his free-header onto the target.
It mattered little as Shange's threaded ball picked out Ntuli, who sprung the off-side trap, before arrowing in a low shot beyond goalkeeper Greg Etafia.
Swallows' first opening was a half one on the 30-minute mark as Levi Mokgothu's cross from the left skidded off the head of an open Edward Manqele six yards out.
The hosts continued to look dangerous going forward and Gift Sithole was next to come close, with the defender watching his powerful low shot from a corner blocked on the line by Nkosinathi Ogle.
A superb run and cut-back from the left byline by Mzivukile Tom then opened the door for Shange, whose stinging effort was turned away for a corner by Etafia.
The Birds finally scared the hosts in stoppage time when Chabangu collected on the edge of the box, before spinning and quickly shooting centimetres wide.
After the restart, Shange should have extended the lead when Ntuli brilliantly escaped his marker on the left and crossed expertly to the back post, but the shot was this time closed down by Etafia.
On the other side of the hour, Manqele or Mungomeni should have at least pulled a goal back -- the former wastefully trying to flick in Levi Mokgothu's low right-side cross, while the latter crashed over a header from a Chabangu corner.
When Swallows finally got the ball in the back of the net 15 minutes from time, Siyabonga Nomvethe was flagged for off-side.
There was a glimmer of hope four minutes later as Mungomeni headed in Chabangu's inviting free-kick from the left, although the home side held on.
(File photo:Gallo Images)
- Sapa