The Proteas were in trouble at 29 for three, chasing a seemingly modest 119 for victory.
But opener Kallis, returning to international duty after being rested from the drawn one-day series between the two countries, made 48 not out of 44 balls with seven fours.
Together with left-hander JP Duminy (47 not out), he shared an unbroken stand of 90 in 91 deliveries as the Proteas, who won with an over to spare, went 1-0 up in a three-match series ahead of this month's World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
South Africa saw hard-hitting opener Richard Levi caught in the slips off Jade Dernbach and Twenty20 international debutant Faf du Plessis lbw to fast bowler Steven Finn.
De Villiers, who helped Hashim Amla add 172 in South Africa's seven-wicket win in the fifth ODI at Trent Bridge on Wednesday which squared that series at 2-2, was then caught behind by Craig Kieswetter, a former Proteas junior international, off South Africa-born seamer Dernbach for 10.
South Africa were now 29 for three and England, all but out of the contest at the mid-innings break, were now very in the game.
But if South Africa could produce one decent partnership bat they would win and in world class all-rounder Kallis and left-hander Duminy they had the men for the job in the absence of the rested Amla.
England Twenty20 captain Stuart Broad, like Kallis rested from the one-dayers, brought back Finn in a bid to break the stand but to no avail.
Ultimately England's 118 for seven -- their third lowest total in this format -- did not give their bowlers enough of a score to defend.
Spin bowling, long regarded as the the Proteas' Achilles heel, accounted for four England wickets with off-break bowler Johan Botha (two for 19) and left-armer Robin Peterson (two for 27), striking after De Villiers won the toss.
Meanwhile ever reliable fast bowler Dale Steyn took one for 13 in his maximum four overs.
At 85 for seven, England were in danger of posting their worst Twenty20 total before an unbroken stand of 33 in 27 balls between Broad and Graeme Swann, who both finished on 18 not out, gave them a foothold in the match.
No England batsman made more than opener Kieswetter's 25.
England's collapse started with a needless run out. Alex Hales, who made an England Twenty20 best 99 against the West Indies in June after replacing the still exiled Kevin Pietersen, charged down the pitch for a non-existent single and, turning back, was run out by Kallis's direct hit on the stumps.
Kieswetter then fell when he was plumb lbw to Botha's first ball. And Ravi Bopara, who averaged just 5.50 with the bat during the one-dayers fell cheaply in familiar fashion when he edged a good length Steyn delivery to Botha at slip.
Botha then struck again when he bowled dangerman Eoin Morgan for 10, after the former Ireland left-hander bottom edged a pull-sweep. Peterson bowled Jos Buttler before fellow young gun Jonathan Bairstow holed out off paceman Albie Morkel.
Then a well-judged catch by Kallis saw Peterson dismiss Patel. The series continues in Manchester on Monday. (AFP)
Brief Scores: England 118 for 7 in 20 overs (Craig Kieswetter 25, Stuart Broad 18*; Johan Botha 2 for 19, Robin Peterson 2 for 27) lost to South Africa 119 for 3 from 19 overs (Jacques Kallis 48*, JP Duminy 47*; Jade Dernbach 2 for 31) by 7 wickets.
Man of the Match: Dale Steyn
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