The 30-year old has been appointed their limited overs captain, whilst Dean Elgar has been given the job of leading the test team.
They have replaced Quinton de Kock, the keeper-batsman who briefly held all three jobs after succeeding Faf du Plessis. Du Plessis had quit Test cricket last year to focus his attention on T20s alone.
However, de Kock found that the responsibility was affecting his all-round game, and he is currently taking a mental health break from the sport.
Bavuma will now take responsibility for leading his side Into the Twenty20 T20I World Cup this year in India and next year in Australia, and also the next edition of the 50 over World Cup, again to be staged in India in 2023.
A number of mixed-race players like JP Duminy, Ashwin Prince and Justin Ontong, have taken charge of South African sides on an ad-hoc basis. Hashim Amla, who made history in his own right by becoming the first Asian to play for the country, has also led the South Africa in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Middle-order batsman Bavuma made his international debut in 2014 playing against the West indies in a test match. He has since gone on to play in 44 tests, and has a top score of 102 not out, made against England in the 2016 Cape Town Test.
He has actually played relatively limited overs cricket so far, but now he will have plenty of opportunities to add to his six ODI and 8 T20I caps. He scored a century on his ODI debut against Ireland in 2016.
Meanwhile Elgar, a veteran of 67 Test matches, is no stranger to his new role.
He stood in twice when du Plessis was unavailable for various reasons.
In terms of rankings South Africa are currently the fifth ranked team in the world, and the sixth when it comes to ODI and T20I cricket.