Jbe Kruger turned in 33 to join overnight leader Keith Horne at the top of the leaderboard early on day two of the BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni.
Neither of the South African duo currently have full European Tour playing privileges but a win here at Glendower Golf Club this week would take care of that in some style.
England's Graeme Storm, who was given a reprieve last season after initially missing out on his card by 100 euros, turned in 32 to sit a shot behind the leaders at seven under and one ahead of fellow Englishman Jordan L Smith and South Africans Shaun Norris, Trevor Fisher Jnr and Jaco Van Zyl - who recorded a hole-in-one on the 17th.
Smith was the first man to hit the front as birdies on the 11th and 13th moved the 2016 Challenge Tour number one to the top of the leaderboard at seven under.
Horne was not far behind, however, and gains on the 13th and 15th briefly moved him to eight under but he dropped a shot on the next while Smith surrendered a stroke on the same hole.
Kruger enjoyed the back nine yesterday, coming back in 30, and he made birdies on the 12th and 14th to join Horne at the summit.
Storm had got off to a quick start, birdieing the tenth, 11th and 12th, and when he holed a monster putt on the 18th, he was in a share for the lead.
Playing partner Kruger then followed him in from around 20 feet and hit the front on his own but Horne made a birdie of his own on the first to tie things up.
Van Zyl won a BMW i8 as he made the second hole-in one of the 2017 season on the 17th.
The home favourite holed a four iron from 223 yards to join Jarrod Lyle in the 2017 ace club after the Australian made the first of the season at the Australian PGA Championship.
Van Zyl's shot was always bang on line and took two hops before rolling into the cup.
He had been one under for his round stood on the 17th tee and he added birdies on the first and second to sit six under after 12 holes.
Norris had eagled the 15th and added three birdies and two bogeys in a rollercoaster round that had three holes remaining.
Joint overnight leader Fisher Jnr was due out at 11.40.
Swede Alexander Björk, England's Laurie Canter, South African Justin Harding and Dane Jeff Winther were then at five under alongside later starters Rory McIlroy, Thomas Aiken and Dean Burmester.
Sir Nick Faldo, playing his first regular European Tour event since 2014, was three over for his round after 14 holes to sit at one over.
