A Pietie Coetzee first-half
World number 16 Belgium were coming off a shock 1-0 win over world number three Germany in the Four Nations tournament at Club zur Vahr in Bremen but ran into a South African blitzkrieg as Coetzee nailed a second minute penalty stroke.
She followed with a penalty corner and field goal in the opening half hour to add to Jen Wilson's diving deflection goal in the fifth minute.
The three goals took Coetzee's world record to 245 in 248 Test matches, 25 ahead of the previous mark of 220.
Belgium pulled a goal back in the 27th minute and enjoyed a very strong second half but the early damage did the trick for South Africa.
World number 12 South Africa had five shots at goal and two penalty corners in the first half to Belgium's two and one respectively.
Belgium turned the tables after the changeover to win the match count with a total of 10 goal shots and four PCs to South Africa's seven and two.
South Africa needed to win by five clear goals to bump Belgium into fourth place on the final day and it looked on the cards at 3-0 after 12 minutes following a dream start.
Their blitz began in the opening minute when a superb pass from centre back Kate Woods to Kathleen Taylor out on the right saw the attacking midfielder/forward make ground under pressure before offloading to Coetzee who was heavily fouled in the strike zone to ensure the shot from the penalty spot (1-0).
In the fifth minute, industrious wing back Illse Davids fed Coetzee out right and the ball into the strike zone was finished in fine style by Wilson (2-0).
Seven minutes later, birthday girl Shelley Russell released Coetzee down the left after winning a turnover and the superstar striker won South Africa's first PC, which she sent soaring into the net (3-0).
South Africa were guilty of losing possession too often in this match and Belgium finally capitalised when captain Charlotte de Vos relayed the ball to Lieselotte van Lindt who fired into the danger zone for Emilie Sinia to deflect home her side's first goalscoring opportunity (3-1).
Russell used her blistering pace and admirable control down the left channel to set up an easy finish for Coetzee (4-1).
An in-form Mariette Rix kept South Africa's goal margin intact with several telling saves in the second half while defender Lenise Marais had a good game at the back, as South Africa's successful strategy to limit Belgium's opportunities to go forward in the first half all but deserted them in the second against fiercely determined opponents.
South Africa return home Monday night to join the Team South Africa holding camp in Pretoria. – Sapa