Sibusiso Sithole scored a fine try in the dying seconds to snatch victory from Australia and clinch the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens title for injury-hit South Africa on the final day of the HSBC Sevens World Series.
In a breathless Cup final the injury-hit Springbok Seven came back from 28-7 and 31-14 down to finish strongly and win 36-35 with Steven Hunt assisting his side with a hat-trick of tries.
Paul Treu's side finished the season on a high to win both the London and Edinburgh titles, and ended the HSBC Sevens World Series in second place behind champions New Zealand and ahead of England in third.
Fiji defeated Samoa 26-14 in the Plate final to finish fourth in the World Series whilst in the Bowl competition Kenya broke Scottish hearts when Lavin Asego scored after the hooter had sounded and Canada beat Russia to win the Shield.FINAL RESULTS >>
WORLD SERIES STANDINGS >>
26,405 fans across the weekend at Murrayfield ensured more than 500,000 have turned out across the season, marking a successful landmark year for the World Series.
Who will win the 2011 Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens? >
VIDEO: Seven of the best tries
The South Africans also came from 14-0 behind in their semi final against Wales, as Botha, captain Kyle Brown, Hunt and Delport claiming a 22-19 victory to set up the final with Australia who had earlier beaten New Zealand to reach their first Cup final of the season.
Ed Jenkins, Jacob Taylor and Greg Jeloudev all scored in Australia's 19-12 Cup semi final victory against the World Series champions.
Michael O'Connor's side also proved too strong for their quarter final opponents Fiji, winning 24-14 thanks to tries from Ed Jenkins (two), Brian Sefanaia and Jesse Parahi.
The 2011 London Sevens champions booked their place in the semi finals after beating defending Edinburgh Sevens champions Samoa 28-5 in their quarter final with Hunt, Cecil Afrka, Brown and Sibusiso Sithole all scoring in their win.
Wales, buoyed by their first Cup semi final since 2009 last weekend, reached the same stage at Murrayfield after Gareth Owen scored a penalty in sudden death extra time against France, whilst Frank Halai scored his second hat-trick of the tournament in New Zealand's 26-12 victory against England in the quarter finals.
Fiji finish fourth after Plate victory
Fiji defeated Samoa 26-14 in the Plate final to collect 12 Series points and moved above their Pacific rivals in the World Series standings in fourth. Metuisela Talebula scored twice in the final after they had earlier beaten England 34-19 in the semi final.
Joeli Lutumailagi ensured Fiji would compete in the final, helping his side with two tries against Ben Ryan's side whilst Alafoti Fa'osiliva, Tom Iosefo and Alatasi Tupou scored in Samoa's 17-10 victory against France to set up a repeat of the pool match from day one.
Kenya beat hosts to Bowl
Lavin Asego broke Scottish hearts as he scored the decisive try for Kenya after the buzzer had sounded in an enthralling Bowl final. Benjamin Ayimba's side had taken a 14-0 lead, but Michael Fedo and Lee Jones drew the scores level.
As the match entered its final play, it was Asego who silenced the Murrayfield crowd and avenged a defeat to Scotland in the Bowl final at Twickenham last weekend and picked up four Series points.
The hosts, who narrowly missed out on a place in the last eight, falling just two points short on points difference despite their heroic 45-7 victory against USA beat Canada 26-14 in the quarter finals before recording a 22-7 victory against Argentina thanks to tries from Fedo, Jim Thomspon, Struan Dewar and Jones.
Kenya beat Spain 40-0 in their semi final with Oscar Ouma scorig twice, adding to their earlier 17-15 defeat of USA in their quarter final. Despite Zach Test scoring two tries for Al Caravelli's side, it was Lavin Asego who scored after the buzzer had sounded to snatch victory for Kenya.
Canada end season with Shield
Canada beat Russia in the Shield final 17-12 thanks to tries from Mitchell Gudgeon and Sean Duke (two) to end their season with some silverware.
They reached the final after beating Portugal 17-5 in the semi final thanks to tries from Duke, Harry Jones and Justin Mensah-Coker whilst Russia edged their semi final against USA, Nikolay Zaporzhin scoring the decisive try in their 17-12 victory.