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Hosts South Africa launched their World Cup countdown with a 4-0 thrashing of Thailand Sunday in the opening match at Mbombela Stadium.

Midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala scored once and striker Katlego Mphela twice in a 12-minute first half spell before a sell-out 30,000 crowed as one of 10 Cup venues passed its test after the pitch was relaid several times.

Bernard Parker added a fourth in the final minute as South Africa matched a record winning margin created with a victory by the same score against Chad in an African Nations Cup qualifier.

But much tougher tests lie ahead against Bulgaria, Colombia and Denmark before South Africa face Mexico in the June 11 opener and then tackle former world champions Uruguay and France.

South Africa started with an all-local line-up as they sought to extend a seven-match unbeaten run since Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira took charge a second time last November.

Asian minnows Thailand arrived in the north-east city, one of nine that will host World Cup fixtures, under a cloud with anti-government Bangkok protests claiming at least 25 lives.

The visitors erected a defensive stall from the kick-off, barely leaving their own half during the early exchanges and it took the 'War Elephants' six minutes to launch an attack.

Bafana Bafana (The Boys) had managed just seven goals in seven outings and the early signs were not encouraging as captain Teko Modise banged a free kick into the wall.

Mphela vowed during the build-up to end his goal drought, but fluffed a chance on 14 minutes by miskicking a cross after sloppy defending let Tshabalala through.

Surprise Moriri also should have done better a few minutes later, blazing well wide from close range when he should at least have tested goalkeeper Kawin Thamasatchanan.

But despite having all 11 players behind the ball at times, the Thais did not look comfortable at the back and the inevitable first goal arrived midway through the opening half.

Set-piece specialist Tshabalala banged a free kick slightly right of the goal through a wall that disintegrated and the ball landed in the near corner of the net with the goalkeeper reacting too slowly.

Thamasatchanan then produced an acrobatic one-hand save to deprive the left-side South African midfielder of a second goal soon after.

South Africa doubled their lead on 30 minutes as Tshabalala turned provider by swinging a corner into the heart of the goalmouth and unguarded Mphela chested the ball over the line at the far post.

Within three minutes Mphela struck again as the crowd revelled in a rare South African goal feast, running on to a clever Modise pass and his close range shot hit the goalkeeper and a post before landing in the net.

Thailand changed goalkeepers at half-time and 17 minutes into the second half they tested South African custodian Itumeleng Khune for the first time with a curling free kick that was pushed away.

Parreira rang the changes as the second half progressed with striker Parker, a bit-part player with Dutch champions Twente, introduced for Moriri as South Africa found scoring chances harder to create.

They should have had a record-equalling fourth goal 10 minutes from the end when veteran substitute striker Siyabonga Nomvete fired home from close range and big-screen replays showed the goal should not have been ruled offside.