South Africa eased to a seven-wicket victory in the third and final Test against the West Indies, chasing down a paltry fourth-innings target of 47 on the fourth morning.

The home bowlers refused to let the Proteas canter to a 2-0 series win without loss, taking three second-innings wickets despite the meagre size of the chase.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul had earlier done his best to prolong the inevitable as he finished 71 not out in the Windies' 161 all out.

The hosts started the day 19 ahead of South Africa on 134 for seven, with two boundaries and a six - by Chanderpaul off the bowling of Johan Botha - seeing the total to 151 before Sulieman Benn fell.

Benn hit the first ball of the 62nd over, sent down by Morne Morkel, to the point boundary but lost his off stump to the next delivery.

Morkel struck again to remove Kemar Roach, caught behind for eight, and made it three in his next over as he had debutant Brandon Bess caught by Jacques Kallis at second slip for a golden duck.

Proteas skipper Graeme Smith hit the third ball of the South Africa innings for four but was took a nasty blow to the neck off Roach's next ball.

He continued after treatment but fell for 10 to the first ball of Roach's second over, finding Chanderpaul at mid-wicket.

There were precious few runs to play with though and new man Hashim Amla picked off four more of them from his first ball at the crease.

The Windies had more success when Alviro Petersen departed for six, playing on to give Roach his second wicket.

The paceman then hit the incoming Kallis in the head with a perfectly-aimed bouncer and the pair exchanged words before the umpires intervened.

Kallis, who finished unbeaten on nought, was content to block thereafter, but Amla quickly set about reducing the target as he moved to 25 from 20 balls before becoming victim number three for Roach.

Just two more runs were needed when that wicket fell and AB de Villiers promptly hit the very next ball, a full toss, for four.