Lehlohonolo Majoro netted in the 40th minute albeit through an offside unspotted by referee Victor Gomes, as last season's double winners clinched their second successive pre-season trophy.
Despite the victory, Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter had mixed feelings on the performance, spotting a lot of room for improvement ahead of their Premiership opener against Mpumalanga Black Aces next Saturday.
"Win, lose or draw this match, we still have a lot of work to do before we start the season. I was disappointed with the way we played at times," said Baxter.
"The principles of play, when we do them well, we look a good team. When we get either a bit too self-confident, or nervous, then we look a bit iffy."
"I will take the win and happy supporters. I will take that much rather than heading to the season having lost 2-0 to your greatest rivals," he said.
In contrast, Pirates' lacklustre form has carried on from the second half of last season as coach Roger de Sa tried to find a winning formula.
The dethroned Pirates — twice previous winners of the "Beer Cup" — will head to their second Group A Caf Champions League tie against Egypian giants Al Ahly, in Cairo this weekend.
They were disappointingly held to a 0-0 draw at home by Congo-Brazaville's AC Leopards, easily the weakest side in their group, last week.
"We are obviously disappointed," said De Sa. "There are a couple of areas that we need to work on, like finishing. We go 90 minutes without scoring a goal. But now we go to Egypt which is a tough ask." – Sapa