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Fast bowler Dale Steyn took four wickets to give South Africa the upper hand on the first day of the third Test as Australia were bowled out for 209 at Newlands.

Australia were on 158 for five after tea and South Africa pressed home their advantage with Steyn and Paul Harris collecting two wickets each, having put the visitors under pressure in the first two sessions.

Left-arm spinner Harris needed just four deliveries to remove Brad Haddin (42) leg-before. Television umpire Billy Bowden provided confirmation of Steve Bucknor's decision after a referral by the batsman.

Mitchell Johnson struck six powerful boundaries in his 35, but was caught by Ashwell Prince running around the long-on boundary off Steyn.

Steyn also added the wicket of debutant Bryce McGain (2), well taken at second slip by AB de Villiers, to finish with four for 56.

The performance of Harris was a huge plus for the hosts and the 30-year-old, who said the wind had helped him, ended with three for 34 in 17 overs.

"The south-easterly definitely helped me," said Harris.

"It requires different skills to bowl into it, but I love it because it holds the ball up.

"But you've got to hand it to the bowling unit as a whole, we had a great day, the best for a long time," he added. "It's nice to finally rock up on day one."

South Africa, who have lost the series, had made 57 without loss at the close of play.

Prince, opening the batting for the first time at Test level, was unbeaten on 37 and debutant Imraan Khan was 15 not out.

The opening pair took 20 runs off Johnson in the fifth over of their innings.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was sufficiently irked by the assault to immediately remove the most successful bowler of the series from the attack.

South Africa recovered from dropping both opening batsmen to reduce Australia to 66 for two at lunch.

Steyn then produced two speedy deliveries to take Michael Hussey for 20 and Michael Clarke for a duck.

Australia opener Simon Katich (55) proved more difficult to dislodge, batting for 229 minutes and adding 71 for the fifth wicket with Haddin.

Katich survived several scares, including a dropped catch by Khan in the gully on nine. He was finally dismissed following a rash sweep from outside off stump to Khan at midwicket off Harris.

Fellow opener Phillip Hughes also received a life on 33 when JP Duminy made a hash of a catch off Harris at extra cover.

The mistake did not prove costly, however, as Hughes missed a sweep at Harris two balls later and was adjudged leg-before-wicket for 33.

Ponting then came to the crease but was out in the next over for a duck as he edged a delivery which swung away late from debutant Albie Morkel into the gloves of wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

"They bowled really well, they stuck to their plans and the first hour was hard work," Katich said of the South Africans.

"Unfortunately we weren't able to string enough partnerships together but once the bowlers got a bit of a sniff, they would pick up a couple of wickets on the trot."

Reuters