As a result, the South Americans moved atop of the Group A standings while the South Africans suffered a severe blow in their bid to avoid becoming the first World Cup host ousted in the first round.
Atletico Madrid star Forlan opened the scoring by slamming a right-footed shot from well outside the penalty area which tucked under the crossbar, leaving South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune helpless.
"I capitalized on the opportunity for the goal. Step by step," Forlan said. "We are professionals. We play football and we finish."
South Africa had been unbeaten in their past 13 games under Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who guided his homeland to the 1994 World Cup crown and said Forlan's strike made all the difference.
"The first goal was a fantastic shot. There was basically no way our goalkeeper could have saved it," Parreira said. "If there was not this shot, I think the game would have been different."
Forlan added a penalty in the 80th minute after Khune was issued a red card, only the second ever given a goalkeeper in World Cup finals history, by Swiss referee Massimo Busacca.
"He is the worst referee in this competition," Parreira said. "I hope we don't see his face again in any game anymore. He probably does not deserve to be here."
Khune was trying to keep the ball from Ajax star Luis Suarez but caught the front of the Uruguyan's left boot with his foot and was immediately dismissed.
It will rule him out of Tuesday's game with France.
"For sure it was a penalty," Forlan said.
Italy's Gianluca Pagliuca, formerly of Sampdoria and Inter Milan, was the only other goalkeeper to be red carded in a World Cup finals match, that coming in 1994 against Norway.
Reserve goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs entered in place of South African striker Steven Pienaar to replace Khune, but was helpless to deny Forlan's powerful penalty.
"I think we have to blame ourselves, not the referee," said South African striker Steven Pienaar of Everton.
The 10-man hosts pressed forward but were largely contained by the South Americans and they killed the game off with Porto's Alvaro Pereira adding a final goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
"The most important thing is not my two goals, but that we have won," said Forlan. "It's a victory for all the team. We are very happy."
Uruguay, who opened with a 0-0 draw with France, have four points with South Africa, who drew 1-1 with Mexico on one. France and Mexico play Thursday.
The match came on South Africa's Youth Day holiday, the anniversary of the 1976 Soweto uprising that galvanized the fight for freedom by black South Africans and helped lead to the end of apartheid in the 1990s.
South African midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi, who plays for Fulham, picked up a yellow card in the 42nd minute, his second in as many matches meaning he too will miss the France match.
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