South Africa ended their three-game losing streak with an 18-5 win over New Zealand in the sides' Tri-Nations encounter in Port Elizabeth.
Morne Steyn led the Springboks with four penalties and a drop goal, despite New Zealand dominating territory throughout much of the first-half.
All Blacks centre Richard Kahui scored the only try of the game shortly before the break, but the team couldn't engineer a second-half comeback as Steyn's fifth penalty put the match beyond doubt.
The Springboks will be buoyed by the result ahead of their defence of the World Cup in just under a month.