West Indies fast bowlers Pedro Collins, Daren Powell and Reon King grabbed two wickets each to put the skids under South Africa on the third day of the first Test on Saturday.
In reply to the West Indies' first innings of 543 for five declared, South Africa were left tottering on 130 for six when bad light stopped play eight overs early.
At the close Mark Boucher was unbeaten on 32 and Nicky Boje was batting on 21, leaving the visitors still 214 runs short of their follow on target.
Collins had figures of two for 33, Powell took two for 42, and King claimed two for 32.
Play began almost three hours later than scheduled because of overnight rain.
During the afternoon session, the South Africans had collapsed to 44 for four after losing three wickets in five deliveries.
Graeme Smith started the slide when he edged a swinging delivery from Collins to wicketkeeper Courtney Browne for two.
Powell dismissed Jacques Rudolph first ball after Ryan Hinds took a fine catch at third slip.
South Africa were left reeling on 16 for three just two balls later when Jacques Kallis dragged a delivery from Powell on to his stumps. He was out without scoring.
AB de Villiers and Herschelle Gibbs kept the bowlers at bay until the seventh over, when Collins trapped Gibbs in front for five with a delivery that pitched in line with leg stump and angled across the right-hander.
De Villiers added 41 runs with Boucher in a stand that lasted 14 overs before he fell to King off an inside edge.
De Villiers hit seven fours in his 41.
Andrew Hall failed to withstand the attack for long as he fell for two from a pull shot off King which looped to Collins at mid-on.
Scorecard
West Indies 1st innings 543 for 5 decl (W. Hinds 213, S. Chanderpaul 203 not out)
South Africa 1st innings (Overnight: 0-2)
G. Smith c Browne b Collins 2
A. Villiers c Browne b King 41
J. Rudolph c R. Hinds b Powell 0
J. Kallis b Powell 0
H. Gibbs lbw b Collins 5
M. Boucher not out 32
A. Hall c Collins b King 2
N. Boje not out 21
Extras (lb-6 nb-20 w-1) 27
Total (for 6 wickets, 37 overs) 130
Fall of wickets: 1-15 2-16 3-16 4-30 5-71 6-95
Did not bat: M. Ntini, C. Langeveldt, A. Nel
Bowling Collins 12 - 2 - 33 - 2 (nb-8) Powell 10 - 1 - 42 - 2 (nb-5 w-1) King 9 - 1 - 32 - 2 (nb-6) R. Hinds 6 - 2 - 17 - 0
