Canda earned a quick lead, but South Africa managed to stay in the game and made it interesting after right fielder Tyron Brickhill homered in the top of the fourth.
Canada scored all the runs they needed in the first and went on to beat South Africa, 5-2.
Canada was off a good start against Robert White. Minor leaguer Dylan O'Rae led off with a single, right fielder Cameron Chee Aloy followed with a double and both scored on first baseman Sam White's sacrifice fly and a base hit by third baseman Myles Naylor
Left fielder Sam Shaw and center fielder Mark Hartman made it 4-0 with a couple of RBI singles.
White, who also represented South Africa in badminton, managed to keep Canada's bats quiet through the third inning and South Africa came back into the game.
Tyron Brickhill homered on a 2-0 pitch by lefty starter Elliott Cadieux with a runner at first in the top of the fourth and helped South Africa cut the gap to 4-2.
Brickhill stepped to the plate again with a runner at first and two outs in the top of the sixth. Canada gave the call to left-hander Ty Hamilton. The newcomer walked the first batter, then got center fielder Louis Albertyn on a grounder to first.
Canada added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.
They will start the Placement Round with a 1-1 record. South Africa can still improve its Placement Round record with Wednesday's makeup game against the Netherlands.
Canada taking the field against Australia
South Africa's presentation
Canada's starter Elliott Cadieux
South Africa gave the ball to Robert White
Dylan O'Rae got Canada started
Myles Naylor also hit safely in the bottom of the first
It looked like an easy afternoon for Canada's bats
Canada put four runs on the scoreboard in the firt
Tyron Brickhill hit a two-run home run in the top of the fourth
This helped South Africa stay in the game until the end
