According to the West Indies Cricket Board, Bravo wrote to chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd requesting not to be considered for the Test series "due to personal reasons".
The signing of match/tour contracts was requested by the WICB after the squad pulled out during October's tour of India.
And 14 of the 15 selected players returned the documents on Tuesday, with Bravo - who will be replaced - the only one not to.
"The WICB thanks the players for their timely and positive responses and looks forward to a successful tour of South Africa," a statement read.
The West Indies face South Africa in three Tests, the first of which starts on December 17, three Twenty20 internationals and five one-day internationals.
West Indies: Denesh Ramdin (c), Sulieman Benn, Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Leon Johnson, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton.