England lost captain Alastair Cook but made use of good batting conditions to move to 1-76 at lunch on the opening day of the second Test at Newlands on Saturday.
A stunning one-handed catch at third slip by rangy debutant Chris Morris off Kagiso Rabada's bowling ensured Cook departed for 27 runs, as two of South Africa's three changes from the first Test combined to dismiss the England captain.
Alex Hales, playing just his second Test, was unbeaten on 38 along with Nick Compton on three.
Cook and Hales put on a 55-run partnership for the opening wicket.
Cook had won the toss and elected to bat on a dry wicket with a bit of teasing bounce but it looked perfect for a long spell at the crease and a high scoring innings.
England's top wicket-taker James Anderson returned to the side, replacing Chris Woakes after recovering from a calf strain that kept him out of the first Test in Durban, where England beat South Africa by 241 runs on Wednesday with just a two-day break before the second Test.
"It's tough on Woakes but you can't afford to leave your best bowler if he is available," said Cook before play started on Saturday.
South Africa had already confirmed on the eve of the Test that the world No.1 ranked bowler Dale Steyn would not be playing, as he has not recovered from a shoulder injury, and that 20-year-old Rabada would take his place.
Before play on Saturday, Kyle Abbott was added to the list of fast bowling casualties as he had not properly recovered from a hamstring strain and was replaced by debutant Chris Morris.
Quinton de Kock returned to the role of wicketkeeper in an effort to lessen the work load of talismanic AB de Villiers. De Kock replaced JP Duminy, who was dropped after a long run without any form.
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