South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis will captain the side in the third Test against Australia next week.
Kallis replaces Ashwell Prince, the official vice-captain, who was recalled to the team after captain Graeme Smith broke his finger in the second Test in Durban.
Smith suffered the injury while batting in the first innings of a match South Africa lost by 175 runs to go 2-0 down in the series with one Test left.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) said Kallis was taking over "...to allow Prince to concentrate on his new position of opening batsman."
Prince has represented his country in 47 Tests but never as an opener.
CSA also said it would consider hosting the Champions Trophy in September once it receives an official invitation from the International Cricket Council's Executive Board.
The ICC's Chief Executive's Committee recommended to its board that South Africa be invited to host the tournament instead of Sri Lanka for weather reasons.
