The Benoni-based team, who were hosting the play-off rounds, edged out the KwaZulu-Natal Inland by five runs at Willowmoore Park.
The Proteas play the first of 3 test matches on the sub-continent in what is interim team director, Enoch Kwe's, first tour at the helm.
Luc Eymael's appointment comes after the Limpopo based side sacks their coach Lionel Soccoia last week.
Jacques Nienaber said that the team has already incorporated the lessons they had taken from the 23-13 defeat into their preparations for Saturday’s African derby against Namibia.
The nineteenth season of PRO14 rugby begins in Bloemfontein where the Cheetahs welcomes last season’s beaten finalists and 2015 champions, Glasgow Warriors.
The match pits Namibia against their ‘big brother’ in what should be a mismatch but does highlight the strong rugby ties between the two nations.
The clash will take place on Sunday, 13 October 2019, at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
South Africa will play a three-day warm-up match against an Invitational XI starting on Thursday in Vijayanagaram.
Two other players – centre Chumisa Qawe and winger Shuneez van Heerden – are also in line to make their Test debuts if they take to the field.
The first World Athletics Championships of the post-Usain Bolt era get under way here Friday with the sport desperately seeking a new superstar as it tackles a slew of ongoing doping controversies.
