India were bowled out for 266 in their second innings and thereby set a target of 240 runs for the Proteas.
Dean Elgar (46*) and Rassie van der Dussen (11*) will resume batting on Day 4 and South Africa had ended the previous day at 118/2.
The visitors have come under heavy criticism for their poor batting display in South Africa. During the first innings of the ongoing first Test match, fans were particularly left enraged with the performances of Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant.
Pujara was dismissed for three runs off 33 balls and Rahane lost his wicket in the next delivery of the same over for a golden duck. The duo paid back the selectors' trust during the second innings to some extent, registering half-centuries and helping India take a good lead.
Meanwhile, Pant could only muster 17 runs off 43 balls in the first innings and was sent packing for a three-ball duck in the second innings.