Kagiso Rabada took three wickets in the first half an hour to put South Africa on their way to victory
Third Test, Cape Town (day five of five)
South Africa 329 & 387: Mulder 115, Rickelton 101
Australia 429 & 111: Lyon 33*; Rabada 3-39; Harmer 6-16
David Warner labelled Australia "terrible", "utterly disgraceful" and "un-Australian" as his former side crumbled under the pressure of a final-day chase and allowed South Africa to charge to a famous Test and series victory in Cape Town.
Chasing 288 to win an enthralling contest themselves, Australia lost two wickets in the first over bowled by Kagiso Rabada and never recovered.
Rabada was irresistible, also adding the key wicket of Travis Head caught at slip in a superb first spell to become the fastest bowler to 350 Test wickets.
But Australia played a part in their own downfall, with Josh Inglis run out for four after inexplicably being called through by Cameron Green.
That opened the door to spinner Simon Harmer, who had Alex Carey caught reverse sweeping with just two to his name and Cooper Connolly caught behind for a two-ball duck.
At 60-7 at lunch, former opener Warner, who retired from Test cricket in January 2024, tore into his former team-mates.
"It is terrible," he said on Fox Sports. "It is un-Australian. There is no fight whatsoever. It is disgraceful.
"The batters have let the bowlers down all series. [Matt] Renshaw showed fight in that first Test but I think the batters have been utterly disgraceful."
Australia then dropped anchor in a bizarre period - one scoring shot came in 50 minutes - but Harmer was not to be denied, taking the final wicket for career-best figures of 6-16 as Australia were dismissed for 111.
Defeat comes at the start of an intense run of Test cricket for Pat Cummins' side, with attention now turning to four Tests at home against New Zealand starting in December before a five-Test tour of India, the 150th anniversary Test against England in March and next summer's Ashes. The consequences could be significant.
South Africa's fine victory, earned across three fascinatingly fluctuating Tests, means the Proteas regain their position at the top of the world rankings and reaffirms their status as one of the world's very best sides.
The series appeared in the balance before its 15th and final day. In the end, it was no contest. South Africa were sensational.
Warner's verdict came after the first session in which all Australian hope of victory had evaporated.
After opener Matt Renshaw was unfortunate to be caught down the leg side second ball, Marnus Labuschagne could not survive the remainder of the first over as he was dismissed shouldering arms. It extended the 32-year-old's run of innings without a century to 49. The 32-year-old's Test career looks to be over for now.
Without the determination of injured former captain Steve Smith, Australia's fresh-looking batting line-up, which did show promise in the first innings, appeared brittle.
At 40-3, they still had slim hopes but Green ran out Inglis and then Carey played his silly reverse off Harmer. Green, dropped on 10, survived to lunch but at one stage he was being protected from Harmer's spin by number eight Mitchell Starc.
"Yes, Matt Renshaw was burgled down the leg side, [but] it is on the line and this is the way they play," Warner said. "It is deplorable."
After lunch, and ironically given Warner's words, Australia changed tack completely, with Cummins facing 40 balls before scoring a run as he abandoned any thought of victory with two sessions to go.
When Green did face Harmer he was bowled through the gate.
That meant number 10 Nathan Lyon, who played his shots while Cummins blocked, finished as the innings' highest scorer with 33 not out.
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