Opener David Warner was out for South Africa's first breakthrough, edging to Graeme Smith at slip for 70 after adding five to his overnight score, and South Africa took fairly regular wickets after until a 37-run stand between Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle for the last wicket avoided the follow-on.
Despite the late resistance, South Africa still claimed a big lead as it chases a series-leveling victory at St. George's Park, with seamers Vernon Philander and the menacing Morne Morkel taking three wickets each.
After Warner, Nathan Lyon was bowled by Morkel, Brad Haddin had his middle stump knocked out by Dale Steyn and Mitchell Johnson missed a straight one from spinner JP Duminy after being roughed up by Morkel to end the first session and keep the pressure squarely on the Australians.
Steve Smith was out for 49 straight after lunch and although tailender Harris launched a big six over midwicket to avoid the follow on and cut the deficit to less than 200, he eventually edged behind to Faf du Plessis for a run-a-ball 26, giving Morkel his third wicket.
South Africa was in control but had problems of its own with bowler Wayne Parnell and batsman Hashim Amla off the field with injuries since the morning. Parnell went to the hospital for a scan on a left groin injury and Amla dislocated the ring finger on his left hand attempting a sharp catch in the gully.
Amla was expected to be able to bat, but Parnell's diagnosis was uncertain.
Steve Smith's valuable fighting innings for Australia and his 37-run partnership with Johnson had appeared to be taking the Australians to the first target of 224 and easily avoiding the possibility of being made to bat again. Johnson hit three fours and clubbed a straight six off Duminy before lunch, but then got hit square on the helmet by Morkel and missed a gentle delivery by Duminy in the next over to be bowled, with Australia 205-8 at the break.
Harris eventually made sure there would be no follow-on, hitting four fours and his six.
South Africa was in overall control despite the injury problems for Parnell and Amla and another dropped catch on Saturday to go with two on Friday evening because the bowling was good.
South Africa made early progress in the fifth over of the day as Warner chased a wide ball from Philander (3-68) and tickled an edge to Graeme Smith at first slip. Nightwatchman Lyon survived 42 balls and a couple of blows on the body for his 15 before running away to the leg side and hacking a Morkel delivery onto his own stumps.
Steyn, who was kept back from opening the bowling by South Africa, found movement off the seam to beat Haddin convincingly for 168-7.
Steve Smith and Johnson kept the Australians scoring at a decent rate on the first day that sunshine has broken out for an extended period of time in Port Elizabeth, but Johnson's wicket right at the end of the session gave South Africa a chance at enforcing the follow-on.
Steve Smith hit eight fours to be on the brink of his half-century but feathered an edge behind to Morkel soon after returning from lunch and South Africa skipper Graeme Smith successfully reviewed the not out decision.
Harris frustrated but was eventually worked out by Morkel for the last wicket.
Morkel had 3-63 and Parnell 2-31 before he limped off halfway through his third over to go to the hospital.
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