Springboks head coach Heyneke Meyer has stepped down from his position, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) announced on Thursday.
Meyer, who took over the team at the conclusion of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, informed SARU that he no longer wished to be considered as a candidate to coach the team.
In all, Meyer led the side to 32 victories and two draws in 48 matches. Under his tutelage, the Springboks recorded a 66.7 per cent winning record in Tests and scored 143 Test tries - second only to New Zealand in that time.
He took the side from fourth to second in the world rankings in his first season in charge and won an impressive 77 per cent of games in 2013 and 2014.
At the recent World Cup in England, Meyer's Springboks recovered from a shock pool stage loss against Japan to reach the semi-finals, where they were edged by the All Blacks 20-18.
The 48-year-old said he was proud to lead his nation but admitted a fresh change was needed.
"I have always put the Springboks first in my time as coach and since returning from England I have realised that as much as I believe I still have a lot to offer, the time has come for change," Meyer said in a SARU statement.
"My integrity has always been very important and I feel I can leave with my head held high. I've always maintained that my only motivation was to serve my country and to do what was best for the Springboks.
"I have greatly enjoyed my time as Springbok coach - although it has been highly pressured at times and especially tough on my family, and I would like to thank them for their unwavering support in the last four years.
"I have put my heart and soul into the job and did my very best. I believe that, overall, I leave the team with much to look forward to in 2016, with new structures in place to ensure the Springboks will remain competitive on the world stage.
SARU said that the search for Meyer's successor would begin immediately.