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World Cup 2010 hosts South Africa needed a defensive slip by hosts Namibia to record a fortuitous 1-0 win away in Windhoek on Wednesday.
A defensive mix-up saw Katlego Mashego benefit with an easy tap-in from close range as four Namibia defenders and goalkeeper Athiel Mbaha contrived to botch up an attempted clearance just after the hour mark.
But South Africa, playing with the majority of their foreign-based stars for the first time since November, battled to come to terms with a bumpy pitch and slippery conditions at the recently renovated stadium in the Namibian capital.
Still awaiting the arrival of their new coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, the South Africans created few chances in an uninspiring performance.
Surprise Moriri went close with a header in the 14th minute and near the end substitute Siyabonga Nkosi headed straight into the arms of Mbaha.
Namibia, who like South Africa were preparing for the start of the 2008 African Nations Cup qualifiers next month, also had chances, notably when Costa Khaiseb broke clear of the offside trap with just the goalkeeper to beat but hit his 75th minute effort wide.
South African goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez also made a stop from Khaiseb in stoppage time at the end of the game.
The win was only the third for South Africa in their last 19 matches after a drastic slump in form over the last year.
They next play Congo in Johannesburg on September 3 while the Namibia travel to Kinshasa to meet the Democratic Republic of Congo on September 3.