Only Sinalo Jafta made a score in the double figures for the Proteas, with 22, as the three-time champions split the wickets between them.
In response, Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont chased down their modest target of 70 in just 14.1 overs.
England’s spin trio of Smith, Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean took seven wickets among them.
In a repeat of the 2017 and 2022 semifinals, England were instantly on the front foot as captain Laura Wolvaardt was caught and bowled by Smith for five.
Fellow opener Tazmin Brits departed for the same score as Smith’s second victim with former skipper Sune Luus being clean bowled by Lauren Bell for two.
Marizanne Kapp departed for four as she became Smith’s third wicket and South Africa slipped to 19 for four.
Anneke Bosch and Jafta provided some resistance, but England continued to chip away as Nat Sciver-Brunt took two wickets, Ecclestone following suit with two wicket maidens as she dismissed Jafta.
With her fellow spinners impressing, it took a little while for Dean to be brought into the attack, but the off-break bowler soon made an impact with the final two wickets to have South Africa bowled out for their second lowest-total at a World Cup.
England had all the time in the world to chase down their target of 70 runs, which meant openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones were cautious.
They came up against the fearsome firepower of Kapp, who bowled in tandem with the spin of Chloe Tryon.
While South Africa had struggled to deal with England’s spinners, Jones and Beaumont were able to work steady boundaries off Tryon.
Masabata Klaas dropped a catch off her own bowling as Jones survived on 31, eventually posting 40 from 50 balls with Beaumont making 21 from 35.
Yesterday, the clash between Australia and Sri Lanka was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
— White Ferns offspinner Flora Devonshire has been ruled out of the Women’s Cricket World Cup with a hand injury.
Devonshire, who earned her maiden inclusion in a World Cup squad, sustained a laceration to her left hand when fielding during training and is expected to take two to three weeks to heal.
Right-arm pace bowling all-rounder Hannah Rowe has been called into the squad to replace Devonshire.
Rowe brings with her 60 ODI caps of experience and will be attending her third one-day World Cup.
— Allied Media
