England were 49 for one in reply on the opening day of the fourth and final test at the Oval after Makhaya Ntini had dismissed Andrew Strauss for six.
Spinner Monty Panesar, who delivered only 2.5 overs, took two for four and Stuart Broad, expensive early on, dismissed two tailenders. Andrew Flintoff claimed the first wicket of the day dismissing Neil McKenzie before lunch.
Captain Graeme Smith was South Africa's top scorer with 46 on a day of lacklustre batting by the visitors who had already won the series after going 2-0 up at Edgbaston last Saturday.