The Proteas moered Australia gou-gou to take a 1-0 lead in their three-match ODI series at the Waca on Sunday morning.
The six-wicket thrashing was set up by pacemen Dale Steyn and Lungi Ngidi as SA bowled their hosts out for 152 in just 38 overs.
The Proteas lost openers Quinton de Kock (47) and Reeza Hendricks (44) after a good start but skipper Faf du Plessis (10 not out) and David Miller (two not out) reached the victory target inside 30 overs.
The Proteas won the toss on a typically lively Perth pitch and went in with their full front-line pace attack.
There was no recovery for Australia after Man of the Match Steyn (2/18 in 7 overs) and Ngidi (2/26 in 8.1 overs) reduced them to 8/3 inside six overs.
They later slumped to 66/6 in 21 overs as Andile Phehlukwayo (3/33 in 6 overs) also played an important role.
CHEERS, MATE: Lungi Ngidi sent Aussie openers packing in Perth. Photo: RICHARD WAINWRIGHT/EPA
The fielding was also out of the top draw with Quinton de Kock at his best behind the stumps, Faf du Plessis taking a stinger in the slips and David Miller producing a direct hit run out with only one stump to aim at.
It ended up as one of the shorter ODIs between the two countries.
It was also the Proteas' sixth win in a row in bilateral series against Australia, following their 5-0 white ball whitewash in South Africa in 2016.
What will have been particularly pleasing for the Proteas was the manner in which they chased down the target with the two rookies, Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram, both making important contributions in support of De Kock against Australia’s full-strength pace attack.