De Villiers takes over the captaincy from Hashim Amla, who resigned after the drawn second test in Cape Town with his side 1-0 down in the four-game series that sees further fixtures at the Wanderers (Jan. 14-18) and Centurion Park in Pretoria (Jan. 22-26).
Premier fast bowler Dale Steyn has been retained in the squad but will undergo a fitness test on Monday as he seeks to return from a shoulder injury, while there is also place for middle-order batsman JP Duminy.
Duminy was dropped from the team that drew the second test this week, but scored an unbeaten 153 for his province in a domestic four-day fixture on Thursday.
After losing the first test in Durban, South Africa had England under pressure on day five in Cape Town after both teams had scored over 600 in their first innings, a fight-back that has emboldened the selectors.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"We were highly encouraged by the performance put up by the Proteas at Newlands," Cricket South Africa selection convener Linda Zondi said in a statement on Friday.
"The very fact that they were nearly able to force a win after conceding 600 runs on the first innings speaks volumes for the character of this group of players.
"We feel we have all our bases covered and also the options that will enable the team to exploit whatever conditions they encounter."
The selectors have also named a 14-man One Day International squad for a five-match home series against England that starts on Feb. 3.
The only change from the squad that won 3-2 in India in October sees spinner Aaron Phangiso drop out. Batsman Rilee Rossouw, an original selection for that series but forced to withdraw through injury, is fit to take his place again.
The ODI side will also be captained by De Villiers.
Test squad: AB de Villiers (captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, Stiaan van Zyl, Hardus Viljoen.
ODI squad: AB de Villiers (captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn.
(Reporting by Nick Said; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
