De Villiers took Rashid Khan for four sixes and a four in his 29-ball 64 to propel the Proteas to 209-5.
South Africa were worried by Afghanistan opener Mohammad Shahzad, who hit five sixes in a 19-ball 44.
But after he was bowled by Chris Morris, who took 4-27, Afghanistan fell away to 172 all out.
South Africa, beaten by England in their opening match, are still to face West Indies and Sri Lanka in a Group 1 that could yet be decided on net run-rate.
Afghanistan will be eliminated if they lose to England on Wednesday, but the only nation outside of Test cricket still left in the competition again showed they can compete at this level.
De Villiers has got form for devastating hitting in white-ball cricket, holding the record for the fastest century and 150 in one-day internationals.
Here, with the Proteas in danger of falling short of a winning total, he dished out some brutal treatment to 17-year-old leg-spinner Rashid.
16.1 overs - Six - too short, pulled over mid-wicket
16.2 overs - Four - stepping back to pull, almost offering a catch to the boundary fielder
16.3 overs - Six - advancing to hit straight
16.4 overs - Six - another short ball, a bigger hit over mid-wicket
16.5 overs - Six - standing still to belt straight once more
16.6 overs - One - a single down the ground to keep the strike
It was the joint-fourth most expensive over at the World T20, with De Villiers sweeping Mohammad Nabi for another six from the first ball of the following over before holing out on the mid-wicket fence.
In all, the Proteas took 71 off the final four overs to reach the sixth-highest World T20 total.
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