DURBAN -- An early goal by giant defender Matthew Booth set South Africa on their way to a comfortable 2-0 win over Malawi in their final World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

South Africa, who had secured qualification from group E for next year's finals in Japan and South Korea a fortnight ago, finished off their campaign unbeaten after six group matches.

Booth scored after just six minutes, with Malawi goalkeeper Navigator Dzinkambani spilling the ball through his legs after a powerful header directed straight at him.

Bradley August, a Danish-based striker, added a second goal 10 minutes after the interval, easily tapping home after Sibusiso Zuma's cross had caught out the visiting defence.

South Africa gave a token 50th cap to 34-year-old midfielder Doctor Khumalo, whose appearance as a second-half substitute received the biggest roar of the afternoon.

But Khumalo contributed little as South Africa failed to press home their territorial advantage in the closing stages, continuing their trend of squandering easy chances.

Saturday's win, however, did arrest a run of three draws for South Africa, who meet Malawi again next Saturday in the quarter-finals of the regional Cosafa Castle Cup.

Coach Carlos Queiroz again opted to experiment with players on the fringe of the selection, using just three of the country's sizeable foreign contingent.

Malawi did have a few chances of their own but Daniel Chitsulo missed their best two, both in the first half.