South Africa were 218 for five at the close of play on the second day of the second Test in Cape Town. West Indies scored 243 in their first innings.
Ashwell Prince scored an unbeaten half-century (55) to ensure South Africa were only 25 runs behind West Indies' first innings total at stumps on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, South Africa needed just 15 minutes after play resumed on the second day to dismiss the visitors for 243 at the Newlands Stadium.
In reply, the home team struggled at 131-5 before Prince shared an unbroken 87-run sixth-wicket partnership with wicket-keeper Mark Boucher (35).
For the West Indies it was Dwayne Bravo, who wrecked South Africa's middle-order, bowling unchanged for 24 overs, and finishing with impressive figures of 3-46.
Bravo bowled 15 overs between lunch and tea, and during this spell took the wickets of Jacques Kallis (36) and Hashim Amla (32), the two well-settled batsmen. He added the wicket of AB de Villiers (2) in the final session.
Thereafter, Prince and Boucher steadied the innings and put South Africa in a position to take a first-innings lead on Friday.
Prince faced 139 balls for his 55 while Boucher took 96 deliveries to reach 35.
West Indies leads the series 1-0 after winning the first Test by 128 runs. The third and final Test starts Jan 10 in Durban.
