They halted a run of three defeats with their best performance of the short campaign.
Apart from the scrums, which suffered until the last 20 minutes when Tendai Mtawarira and BJ Botha entered the fray, the Boks were superior in every facet of the game.
Accurate tactical kicking, piercing runs by the backs and ball control in the contact areas ensured that the outcome was never in doubt although there were some nervous moments.
The Italian scrum, which was their only lethal weapon, had to wait 20 minutes for the first set piece. They quickly earned a penalty and despite missing the kick, it galvanised the team and inspired the crowd.
But by that stage they were down 12-0 thanks to tries from Bryan Habana and Jaque Fourie and the hole was too big to get out of. They pulled a try back through centre Gonzalo Garcia seven minutes before the break.
But four tries to one is an accurate indication of the Boks' superiority against a side boosted by a strong showing against the All Blacks last week.
"They scrummed really well today, which we saw against the All Blacks as well," Bok coach Peter de Villiers said.
Nick Mallett's side are a physical mob, who relished the challenge of smashing into green jerseys legally and illegally.
Flank Simone Favaro was a little too keen to impose himself early in the game by clattering into scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, late and with his shoulder. It was a statement of intent but Irish referee Alain Rolland, easily the best in the world, was having none of it.
He brandished a yellow card and, while Favaro was off the field, the Boks scored two tries and 12 points.
Morne Steyn had, by his standards, an off day with the boot. He slotted four out of seven after missing his first three attempts.
De Villiers admitted that when John Smit moved to hooker and Botha and the Beast propped the scrum, the creaky platform became rock solid. "It's a nice problem to have, knowing that we can change things around," De Villiers said.
"Maybe next week I'll use John (Smit) and Bismarck (du Plessis) as hookers against Ireland."
After conceding two penalties as they were run off the ball by the Italian pack in the first hour, the rejigged pack forced a penalty as they pushed the Italians back late in the game.
Smit has done his best at tighthead but the time has come to recognise that he is a better hooker. His throw-ins were spot on and from one beautifully worked training ground move, replacement centre Wynand Olivier scythed through to score a 72nd-minute try.
Du Preez was again at his imperious best and if the little general doesn't win the World Player of the Year award next month it will be an injustice. His ability to control the game is unparalleled, but a hand injury could see him miss next week's encounter at Croke Park.
For the first 25 minutes, South Africa completely dominated the match mainly as a result of Italy's aimless up-field punting, which gave away the meagre possession they enjoyed.
South Africa's second try, dotted down by Fourie, was a direct result of a poor Italian kick.
Flyhalf Craig Gower's punt landed harmlessly in midfield, where fullback Zane Kirchner collected. He fed the industrious Heinrich Brussow, who in turn freed Habana. The flyer made 15m and found Fourie, who had a clear run to the line.
"I don't want to talk about individuals, but our kicking out of hand was poor and we paid the price for it," said Mallett.
Du Preez's second-half try was scored after Danie Rossouw took another aimless punt and Habana and Du Preez combined to punish Italy in the best way.
Scorers:
Italy: 10- Try: Gonzalo Garcia. Conversion: Craig Gower. Penalty: Gower.
South Africa: 32 - Tries: Bryan Habana, Jaque Fourie, Fourie du Preez, Wynand Olivier. Conversions: Morne Steyn (2), Ruan Pienaar. Penalties: Steyn (2).
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