It was the DHL WP who kept the free-scoring hosts pointless in a tightly contested first half to lead 3-0 at the halfway stage via a Kade Wolhuter penalty.
However, the home side turned things around in the second stanza through three converted tries and a penalty goal while the Cape outfit managed to reply with two converted tries and a penalty goal.
The win kept the Free Staters unbeaten and in first place on the log standings with five wins in a row.
The teams were involved in a huge arm wrestle in the opening half and both sides would have been disappointed with the amount of handling errors which curtailed their attacking intensions.
It was the white jerseys who made a much better start in the second half and their decision to turn down a kickable penalty goal paid handsome dividends and actually paved the way for momentum to swing their way.
From a resultant lineout, Marnus van der Merwe worked his way over the try line and when skipper Ruan Pienaar slotted the conversion the home side edged into the lead 7-3.
Province thought they had scored their first try when Sergeal Petersen raced away for a long-range effort. However, he was called back for a earlier infringement.
The home team's mauling effort was one of their best weapons and they used this to good effect a few minutes later when Gideon van der Merwe was rewarded with their second try.
Pienaar was again target with to add the extras and give his team much more breathing space with the score at 14-3 in their favour.
Angelo Davids scored a fine try.
After two strong runs in the lead-up, winger Angelo Davids did eventually got his try via an acrobatic effort in the left corner, which Wolhuter converted to reduce the deficit to 14-10 with just over ten minutes of play left on the clock.
Nama Xaba, the DHL WP No 6 flank, was yellow carded for a cynical foul and Pienaar was on hand to easily steer the resultant penalty goal through the poles to stretch the home lead to seven points.
A solid scrum laid the foundation for the Cheetah's third converted try scored by replacement back Reinhardt Fortuin which sealed the match. Replacement loose forward Roelof Smit managed to grab a late consolation try for DHL WP after the siren.
Pienaar and his fellow experienced Springbok Frans Steyn were once hugely influential figures as the Free Staters stretched their unbeaten winning streak to five games.
Scorers:
Toyota Cheetahs 24 (0) - Tries: Marnus van der Merwe, Gideon van der Merwe, Reinhardt Fortuin. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (3). Penalty goal: Pienaar.
DHL Western Province 17 (3) - Tries: Angelo Davids, Roelof Smit. Conversions: Kade Wolhuter (2). Penalty goal: Wolhuter.
