Jeremy Hayward’s successfully-converted penalty corner set the Kookaburras on their way to victory at the University of the Witwatersrand before two goals for Jake Whetton, either side of Matt Swann’s tap-in, sealed an emphatic triumph.

The win ensures Australia’s qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Indian city Bhubaneswar and sets up a clash on Friday (July 21) with Belgium, who overcame New Zealand 2-0.

Australia captain Mark Knowles reached 300 international games for his country today, while team-mate Daniel Beale made it 100 caps at the event.

"I think we did what was required tonight and we won the game, so I’m very pleased to have the win and to have reached the semi-final which will take place on Friday," Australia head coach Colin Batch said.

"We’ve had a good performance so far in this tournament and we need to reach our best level for the next match which is the semi-final.

"It’s also important that we acknowledge Mark Knowles who has reached a milestone 300 caps tonight and whose career continues to flourish, along with Daniel Beale who has reached 100 international caps at this tournament."

Belgium earned their 2-0 victory over New Zealand courtesy of early goals from Sébastien Dockier and Tom Boon.

The other semi-final on Friday will see Spain meet Germany after they both came through their last-eight encounters today.

Spain beat Ireland 2-1 thanks to goals from Ricardo Sanchez and Alvaro Iglesias.

Alan Sothern got on the scoresheet for Ireland, equalising in the 44th minute before Iglesias grabbed the winner just a minute later.

Germany, meanwhile, defeated France 4-1 with Timm Herzbruch scoring twice and Tom Grambusch and Marco Miltkau each hitting a goal. 

Belgium, Germany and Spain have all joined Australia in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

All four nations have also guaranteed their place at the Hockey World League Final in Bhubaneswar from December 1 to 10.

They join Argentina, England, The Netherlands - who took the first three positions at last month's Hockey World League Semi-Final in London - and hosts India. 

Malaysia, who finished fourth in London, miss out on taking the highest-ranked fourth-place finisher spot on the grounds that all of the semi-finalists in Johannesburg are placed above them in the International Hockey Federation world rankings.

The women’s semi-finals are due to be held tomorrow with Germany facing Argentina and England meeting the United States.

They will be preceded by the fifth-to-eighth-place play-off matches between India and Japan and hosts South Africa and Ireland, before which Poland go up against Chile in the ninth-place play-off.