South African optimists had hoped for some stubborn resistance on the final day, somehow to deny England their thumping victory.
But when Graeme Swann (who else?) trapped Morne Morkel lbw with a perfect slider to only his fifth ball of the day, the writing was firmly on the wall.
Sixteen overs later, it was all over with Swann claiming the final wicket - Dale Steyn also lbw for three - to finish with 5-54 and match figures of 9-164.
For the second match on the trot, the grinning off-spinner was man of the match in a series that spinners had been predicted to play only a supporting role.
But a glance at the figures for 2009 shows what an enormously valuable role Swann has played.
He took 54 wickets in the calendar year in 12 Tests at an average of 27. Only Australia's Mitchell Johnson, with 63, has taken more.
Makhaya Ntini's place in South Africa's side has come under close scrutiny
Throw in his cameo innings and bubbly personality and it is clear that England owe a great deal to the man who spent nearly 10 years in the wilderness after his tour here in 1999/2000.
With Alastair Cook and Ian Bell both scoring hundreds, England cannot have asked for any more from this game.
Although South Africa are virtually invincible at Cape Town (they have won their last three Tests against England there) the home team has all the selectorial problems to address between now and 3 January.
While England only have concerns about the fitness of Paul Collingwood and look likely to field the same team, South Africa have the thorny political issue of Makhaya Ntini's position in the team to grasp.
Ntini - the only black African in the team - has taken only two wickets so far and is seriously lacking pace and penetration.
With Jacques Kallis also struggling to reach full fitness after his broken rib, the impact on South Africa's bowling attack is surely too much to bear.
Friedel de Wet more than looked the part at Centurion; he almost won the game, but even 1-0 down, political sensitivity might consider the dropping of Ntini to be a step too far.
South Africa is stunned by the result here and there will be a furious backlash in the local media. Having already lost the one-day series, which they were widely expected to win, to be 1-0 down in the Tests will place captain Graeme Smith and the coach, Mickey Arthur, under intense pressure.
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