The little-known South African, who came into the penultimate day two shots ahead of his closest challengers, saw his advantage quickly disappear after two bogeys in his first three holes, but recovered well to eventually post a 71.
That moved him to 10 under overall, with defending champion Pablo Martin breathing down his neck thanks to a superb four-under 68.
Spaniard Martin was aided by two eagles in three holes on the back nine which followed his two birdies and two bogeys earlier, to move to a nine-under total - the same score as another local Dawie Van der Walt after he carded a 70.
Two more South Africans - last year's runner-up Charl Schwartzel and Alex Haindl - stand two strokes further back at the Leopard Creek Country Club after rounds of 69 and 72 respectively.
Thomas Aiken recorded the round-of-the-day score of 67, which included six birdies and a bogey - an effort that enabled him to sit on five under in total - while the highest-placed Britons were Robert Dinwiddie (71 in round three), Robert Rock (75) and David Drysdale (72) all on four under.
However, they will face a tough ask to try and catch leader Michael - who has led after all three days following scores of 66, 69 and 71.
Today's effort looked unlikely, though, when he dropped shots early on and saw his lead vanish.
Speaking afterwards he said: "I definitely felt more pressure today. I was a little more nervous and also with the start I had, it wasn't too good.
"But then I managed to get it all back together and held it all nicely through the last 11 holes.
"But I'm starting to feel a lot better now and learning as I go along, learning to control those nerves to my benefit. So tomorrow will hopefully be good."
Michael, who only turned professional a year ago, also admitted that he was counting on an experience during a domestic Sunshine Tour event in April this year to pull him through.
He added: "I am feeling the pressure, but I learned a lot from when I led into the final round of the Zimbabwe Open and finished fourth.
"Starting with two bogeys in the first three holes was not ideal but I was able to get myself back, and that's where the experience of Zimbabwe helped."
He will have plenty of pressure on him tomorrow in the form of Martin.
Last year's winner has been equally consistent all week and is quietly confident he can overhaul the inexperienced leader.
"I was fighting and playing like a dog out there today," he said. "Four under is a pretty good score and if I can do this again tomorrow, then I'll have a chance."
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