The race was the twenty-sixth South African Grand Prix and the fourteenth to be held at Kyalami.

It was Arnoux' second World Championship victory adding to his win at the previous race the 1980 Brazilian Grand Prix.

This was the first race since the 1968 United States Grand Prix to have three drivers from the same country on the podium; all three were also driving French-built cars.

[1][2] ATS had only just downsized from two entries to one, but with Surer injured the former #2 driver Dutchman Jan Lammers rejoined the team.

In common with the previous race in Brazil, altitude gave the turbo-charged Renaults a dominant edge in speed.