After three days of competition, the national team were lying fifth in the table with a total of six medals.
Pieter Coetzé spearheaded the charge on Saturday, with the South African team securing another three podium places in the swimming pool, raising their tally to six medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Coetzé stormed to victory in the men’s 50m backstroke final, winning gold in a Games record of 24.18.
Behind him, compatriot Ruard van Renen also earned a spot on the podium , snatching bronze in 24.51.
“This is an amazing feeling,” said 22-year-old Coetzé, who had joined Van Renen in the 4x100m freestyle relay team that grabbed bronze the night before.
“I have had to overcome challenges in training for these Games and have been through quite a tough time, so I didn’t know what was going to happen, and the way it’s worked out means a lot to me. I’ve never sung the national anthem on the podium with a teammate before.”
In the women’s 50m butterfly final, Erin Gallagher secured her second medal of the Games.
Gallagher, who had also earned a relay bronze on Friday night, bagged silver in the women’s 50m butterfly final on Saturday, with compatriots Jessica Thompson (25.92) and Caitlin de Lange (26.33) finishing fourth and sixth respectively to showcase the nation’s depth.
After three days of competition, the SA team were lying fifth in the overall table with six medals (two gold, one silver and three bronze).