The Australia national cricket team toured South Africa during the 1996–97 season and played a three-match Test series and a seven-match One Day International series against the South Africa national cricket team.
Australia was led in the Test series by Mark Taylor while South Africa was led by Hansie Cronje.
Australia won the Test series 2–1 and the ODI series 4–3.
Steve Waugh of Australia emerged as the top run-scorer in the Test series with 313 runs, with an average of 78.25. Jason Gillespie finished the series as top wicket-taker with 13 wickets. Steve Waugh was named "man of the Test series".
Squad
Adam Gilchrist was brought in due to Ian Healy's suspension from the first two one-day internationals.