The Springboks trailed 9-3 at halftime in Cape Town but scored the only two tries of Saturday's penalty-plagued game to remain unbeaten in the championship after four rounds. They can clinch their first championship since 2019 — before they won the last two Rugby World Cups — in two weeks against the Pumas in Argentina.
They last won the Freedom Cup, played for only between the teams, 15 years ago.
"This game was really big for us," South Africa captain Siya Kolisi said.
"Outside of the Rugby World Cup final, this was the biggest game for us. We are really happy."
Behind 13-12, the All Blacks had two penalty kick attempts in the last quarter to regain the lead while Springboks fullback Willie le Roux was in the sin bin. But Damian McKenzie hit the post in the 63rd minute and missed from just 35m in front in the 72nd.
Moments later, New Zealand prop Tyrel Lomax obstructed Cheslin Kolbe and was yellow-carded. The hosts put the kickable penalty into the corner, mauled from the lineout, and replacement hooker Malcolm Marx charged over in the left corner.
The world champions ended the All Blacks reign over the Rugby Championship for the last four years, and kept their greatest foe tryless in this contest for the first time since 2007.
The Springboks enjoy the spoils of their hard-fought win in Cape Town. (AP PHOTO)
The game never reached the heights of the classic last weekend at Ellis Park, where South Africa won 31-27.
In the first half, New Zealand deserved their 9-3 lead, all the points from penalties.
But the Springboks finally got a foothold in the visitors' 22 and made it count in the 45th minute after a third straight lineout maul. Rucks thinned the New Zealand defence and Kolisi — playing with a broken nose — plunged over.
Handre Pollard converted to put South Africa in front for the first time at 10-9, and was replaced by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who immediately landed a penalty for 13-9.
McKenzie's fourth penalty from five attempts cut the gap as they entered the final quarter.
English referee Matt Carley dished out a yellow card for Lomax, the fourth of the match split evenly between the teams, and the most decisive.
South Africa used the Lomax penalty to set up a lineout maul, and Marx's 20th Test try extended his record for a Springboks forward.
Up 18-12 with five minutes remaining and a man advantage, the home side confidently finished off their fourth straight win over New Zealand, which they hadn't achieved since 1949.
"They've beaten us many times in a row so (four in a row is) not something to brag about, but it feels good," Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus said.
"The Freedom Cup means a lot for South Africa with where we are now. We wanted to win this badly. This was also good for our hopes of winning the Rugby Championship."
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