Du Plessis made 137 for his second Test century and Elgar 103 not out for his maiden hundred, adding to Hashim Amla's 110.South Africa delayed their declaration to allow Elgar to reach three figures and captain Greame Smith called his batsmen in as soon as Elgar hit a four down to long-on for his century.
Doug Bracewell took 3 for 94 and debutant Colin Munro 2 for 40 in a struggling New Zealand bowling effort and the Black Caps were then 8 for 2 in the fifth over of their first innings and reeling badly after Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson fell to Dale Steyn.
South Africa's Amla added just four runs to his overnight score to give New Zealand's bowlers early success at the start of a cloudy morning at St. George's Park after South Africa continued on 325 for 4 — but there was rare reward for the struggling Black Caps after that.
Newcomers Du Plessis and Elgar, with just seven Test appearances between them, combined for a 131-run stand for the sixth wicket after Du Plessis and Amla added 113 for the fifth wicket.
Only a late spell by New Zealand's South African-born debutant Munro, who removed Du Plessis and Robin Peterson (8), slowed South Africa and prevented further damage.
Doug Bracewell also was brave but the Black Caps attack was humbled by the top-ranked Proteas after New Zealand's batsmen had been dismissed for 45 in a crushing innings and 27-run loss in the first Test.
Left-arm seamer Neil Wagner, recalled to New Zealand's team to give it extra aggression, went for over four runs an over for his 1 for 135. Trent Boult had 1 for 108 and spinner Jeetan Patel 1 for 134.
Du Plessis went to his hundred with a six over wide mid-on off Patel and Elgar launched the offspinner for four for his hundred, finally ending South Africa's formidable first innings with their third century. Smith and AB de Villiers also made half-centuries on Friday's first day.
Du Plessis and Elgar initially battled through tough periods on day two after morning drizzle and overcast conditions made life difficult at times for the batsmen and gave New Zealand a little more to work with on a surface that was flattening out into a good batting pitch.
The Proteas had added just 11 runs in the first eight overs of the day — after the start was delayed by 15 minutes for rain — when Amla edged a leg-side delivery from Boult behind to wicketkeeper BJ Watling, giving New Zealand early hopes of pegging back South Africa.
Amla was New Zealand's only wicket of the first session, however, and Du Plessis and Elgar kept the Proteas marching on with their century stand.
The fast-growing Du Plessis hit 14 fours and two sixes in his 252-ball innings. He now has two centuries and two half-centuries in just four tests.
Elgar registered a first career century two tests after making a pair of ducks on his debut in Australia. The relieved left-hander, who went slowly and nervously through the nineties and was 91 at the tea break, hit his 15th boundary and threw both arms into the air and hugged batting partner Rory Kleinvedlt before running off.
South Africa lead the two-match series 1-0 after a resounding innings win in Cape Town last week, and were on course for a fifth straight series win. New Zealand were nearing a fourth defeat in their last five series.
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