Steyn scored the fastest ever half-century at St George's Park as the Proteas made 417 for eight declared on day three of the second Test in Port Elizabeth.
He was eventually out for 58 from 28 balls, with six fours and five sixes, having been caught by Jason Holder off the bowling of Sulieman Benn.
Kallis holds the South African record for the fastest 50 in Test cricket, achieved against Zimbabwe at Newlands in the 2004/05 season.
Kallis held the world record for the best part of a decade before Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq smashed a 50 off just 21 balls in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. Misbah also went on to equal West Indian great Viv Richards's 28-year-old record for the fastest Test century, achieved off 56 balls.
Steyn shares fourth spot on the fastest half-century list with Pakistan's Shahid Afridi and Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful, who also reached 50s off 26 deliveries.
Fastest half-centuries in Test cricket - per balls (via ESPNcricinfo)
21 - Misbah-ul-Haq - Pakistan v Australia, Abu Dhabi 2014-15
24 - Jacques Kallis - South Africa v Zimbabwe, Cape Town 2004-05
25 - Shane Shillingford - West Indies v New Zealand, Kingston 2014
26 - Shahid Afridi - Pakistan v India, Bangalore 2004-05
26 - Mohammad Ashraful - Bangladesh v India, Mirpur 2007
26 - Dale Steyn - South Africa v West Indies, Port Elizabeth 2014-15
27 - Yousuf Youhana - Pakistan v South Africa, Cape Town 2002-03
28 - Foffie Williams - West Indies v England, Bridgetown 1947-48
28 - Ian Botham - England v India, Delhi 1981-82
28 - Chris Gayle - West Indies v New Zealand, Port of Spain 2014