Banyana coach Desiree Ellis included overseas-players who missed the defeat against Zambia in an international friendly over the weekend, as the likes of Thembi Kgatlana of Atletico Madrid, Refiloe Jane of AC Milan and Eibar's Noko Matlou featured.
The hosts created a couple of opportunities in the early stages but they finally got the breakthrough five minutes before the half-time break courtesy of Hildah Mogaia, who plays for Moron BK in Sweden.
Algeria were proving to be a tough nut to crack in the second stanza as the South Africans looked to double their advantage.
Ellis made a double change in the 65th minute, as Thalea Smidt of Mamelodi Sundowns replaced Spain-based Kholosa Biyana for fresh legs in midfield and Nomvula Kgoale, also based in Spain made way for locally-based Sibulele Holweni in an attacking move.
With the game still in the balance in the closing phase, Kgatlana eventually sealed the deal for Banyana in the last minute with the second goal, as Ellis' ladies kept a cleansheet, which is another positive ahead of the second-leg next Wednesday in Algeria.