JOHANNESBURG, March 26 (Reuters) - South Africa scrapped to an unconvincing 2-1 win over Uganda on Saturday to maintain their lead in African zone Group Two.

Steven Pienaar netted the winning goal in the 72nd minute

after Uganda had threatened to derail their World Cup

qualification hopes.

The Ajax Amsterdam midfielder tucked away a cross from

Delron Buckley in one of the few moments of enterprise from the

home side, playing in front of a paltry 10,000 crowd at the

cavernous 75,000-capacity Soccer City.

South Africa led at halftime through a penalty from Quinton

Fortune in the 21st minute, although the decision from the

Nigerian referee bemused all watching.

It was only the second goal for his country in 47

appearances for the Manchester United player.

Uganda were awarded an equally fortuitous spot kick midway

through the second half which was converted by captain David

Obua.

The win puts South Africa four ahead of their nearest

challengers, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana, who

play each other in Kinshasa on Sunday.

South Africa, who will host the 2010 World Cup finals,

benched their key striker Benni McCarthy after he only arrived

in Johannesburg on the eve of the game, although he did come on

early in the second half.