List of political families in South Africa

This is a partial list of prominent political families in South Africa.

Aucamp

 * Cassie Aucamp, leader of the Afrikaner Eenheidsbeweging, father to:
 * Willie Aucamp, Member of Parliament; formerly married to Carol Johnson, Member of Parliament.

Bellhouse

 * Elgar Bellhouse, chairperson of the Progressive Party, father to:
 * Molly Blackburn (née Bellhouse; 1930–1985), political activist.
 * Judy Chalmers (née Bellhouse), Member of Parliament.

Bunting

 * Sidney Bunting (1873–1936), chairman of the Communist Party of South Africa, father to:
 * Brian Bunting (1920–2008), Member of Parliament; married to Sonia Bunting (1922–2001), anti-apartheid activist.

Cachalia and Asvat

 * Ebrahim Ismail Asvat (died 1940), political activist, father to:
 * Zainab Asvat, political activist.
 * Amina Cachalia (née Asvat; 1930–2013), Member of Parliament; married to Yusuf Cachalia, political activist; mother to:
 * Ghaleb Cachalia, Member of Parliament.
 * Ahmed Mohamed Cachalia, political activist, father to:
 * Moulvi Cachalia (1908–2003), political activist.
 * Yusuf Cachalia (1915–1995), political activist; formerly married to Bettie du Toit, political activist; married to Amina Cachalia, political activist; father to Ghaleb Cachalia.
 * Ismail Cachalia, Member of Parliament, father to:
 * Firoz Cachalia, Member of Parliament.
 * Azhar Cachalia, anti-apartheid activist.

Calata

 * James Calata (1895–1983), political activist, grandfather to:
 * Fort Calata (1956–1985), political activist, member of the Cradock Four.

Dangor

 * Ebrahim Dangor, activist, father to:
 * Mohammed Dangor, diplomat and politician.
 * Achmat Dangor (1948–2020), author and activist.
 * Jessie Duarte (née Dangor; 1953–2022), Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

David and Naidoo

 * Phyllis Naidoo (née David; 1928–2013), political activist; formerly married to M. D. Naidoo, political activist; sister-in-law of M. J. Naidoo, political activist; sister-in-law of Tim Naidoo, political activist and former wife of Mac Maharaj.
 * Paul David (1940–2020), political activist, brother of Phyllis.

De Klerk

 * Jan de Klerk (1903–1979), member of cabinet, father to:
 * Frederik Willem de Klerk (1936–2021), State President of South Africa from 1989 to 1994.

Ebrahim

 * Ebrahim Ebrahim (1937–2021), member of cabinet.
 * Gora Ebrahim (1936–1999), Member of Parliament, brother to Ebrahim.

First and Slovo

 * Julius First, treasurer of the Communist Party of South Africa, father to:
 * Ruth First (1925–1982), anti-apartheid activist; married to Joe Slovo (1926–1995), leader of the South African Communist Party.

Fraser and Moleketi

 * Arthur Fraser, anti-apartheid activist.
 * Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, member of cabinet, sister to Arthur; married to Jabu Moleketi, member of cabinet.

Gandhi and Ramgobin

 * Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948), political activist, grandfather to:
 * Ela Gandhi, Member of Parliament; formerly married to Mewa Ramgobin (1932–2016), Member of Parliament.

Graaff

 * David Pieter de Villiers Graaff (1859–1931), minister in the Cape Colony, father to:
 * De Villiers Graaff (1913–1999), leader of the United Party, father of:
 * David de Villiers Graaff, Member of Parliament.

Goniwe

 * Matthew Goniwe (1947–1985), member of the Cradock Four, uncle to:
 * Mbulelo Goniwe, Member of Parliament.

Groenewald

 * Pieter Groenewald, leader of the Freedom Front Plus, father to:
 * Michal Groenewald, Member of Parliament.

Gumede

 * Josiah Gumede (1867–1946), founding member of the South African Native National Congress, father to:
 * Archie Gumede (1914–1998), leader of the United Democratic Front, father to:
 * Donald Gumede, Member of Parliament.

Hendrickse

 * Allan Hendrickse (1927–2005), leader of the Labour Party, father to:
 * Peter Hendrickse, Member of Parliament.
 * Michael Hendrickse, Member of Parliament.
 * Marie-Louise Hendrickse; formerly married to Desmond Lockey, Member of Parliament.

Hlengwa

 * Mhlabunzima Hlengwa (1945–2005), Member of Parliament, father to:
 * Mkhuleko Hlengwa, Member of Parliament.

Kadalie

 * Clements Kadalie (1896–1951), founder of the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union of Africa, father to:
 * Fenner Kadalie (1928–2011), pastor and activist in District Six, father to:
 * Rhoda Kadalie (1953–2022), activist, mother to:
 * Julia Pollak, economist; married to Joel Pollak, editor of Breitbart News.

Koornhof

 * Piet Koornhof (1925–2007), member of cabinet, father to:
 * Gerhard Koornhof, Member of Parliament.
 * Nic Koornhof, Member of Parliament, cousin to Piet.

Luthuli

 * Albert Luthuli (c. 1898–1967), leader of the African National Congress, father to:
 * Albertina Luthuli, Member of Parliament.

Mahlangu

 * David Mabhoko Mahlangu (Mabusabesala II), King of the Southern Ndebele–Ndzundza, father to:
 * Cornelius Mahlangu (Mayitjha II; 1947–2005), King of the Southern Ndebele–Ndzundza from 1992 to 2005.
 * James Mahlangu (1953–2005), Chief Minister of KwaNdebele from 1990 to 1994.

Manana

 * Sibongile Manana, Member of Parliament, mother to:
 * Mduduzi Manana, Member of Parliament.

Mandela and Machel

 * Nelson Mandela (1918–2013), President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, grandfather to:
 * Mandla Mandela, Member of Parliament.
 * Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (1936–2018), Member of Parliament, second wife of Nelson.
 * Graça Machel, First Lady of Mozambique from 1975 to 1983 and First Lady of South Africa from 1998 to 1999, third wife of Nelson; formerly married to Samora Machel (1933–1986), President of Mozambique from 1975 to 1983.

Mantashe

 * Gwede Mantashe, member of cabinet.
 * Tozama Mantashe (1960–2021), Member of Parliament, sister to Gwede.

Mashinini

 * Nomkhitha Virginia Mashinini, political activist, mother to:
 * Tsietsi Mashinini, political activist.

Matanzima

 * Kaiser Matanzima (1915–2003), Prime Minister of Transkei from 1976 to 1979, President of Transkei from 1979 to 1986, grandfather to:
 * Lwandile Zwelenkosi Matanzima (c. 1970–2010), traditional leader in Western Thembuland.
 * George Matanzima (1918–2000), Prime Minister of Transkei from 1979 to 1987, brother to Kaiser, father to:
 * Qaqambile Matanzima (1949–2013), officer in the Transkei Defence Force and South African National Defence Force.

Matthews

 * Z. K. Matthews (1901–1968), political activist, father to:
 * Joe Matthews (1929–2010), Member of Parliament, father to:
 * Naledi Pandor (née Matthews), member of cabinet.

Mbeki

 * Govan Mbeki (1910–2001), defendant in the Rivonia Trial; married to Epainette Mbeki, political activist; father to:
 * Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa from 1999 to 2008, father to:
 * Kwanda Mbeki, political activist.
 * Moeletsi Mbeki, political activist.

Meer

 * Fatima Meer (1928–2010), political activist; married to Ismail Chota Meer (1918–2000), Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature; mother to:
 * Shehnaz Meer, judge of the Land Claims Court.
 * Farouk Meer, political activist, brother to Fatima.

Mncwango

 * Albert Mncwango, Member of Parliament, uncle to:
 * Zwakele Mncwango, Member of Parliament.

Moosa

 * Valli Moosa, member of cabinet.
 * Mohseen Moosa, Member of Parliament, brother to Valli.

Morkel

 * Gerald Morkel (1941–2018), Premier of the Western Cape, father to:
 * Kent Morkel, Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament.
 * Craig Morkel, Member of Parliament.

Motsepe

 * Augustine Motsepe (1915–2007), chief of the Bakgatla-Ba-Mmakau, father to:
 * Patrice Motsepe, businessman; married to Precious Moloi, businesswoman.
 * Bridgette Radebe (née Motsepe), businesswoman; married to Jeff Radebe, member of cabinet.
 * Tshepo Motsepe, First Lady of South Africa; married to Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa since 2018.

Motsoaledi

 * Elias Motsoaledi (1924–1994), political activist; paternal uncle to:
 * Aaron Motsoaledi, member of cabinet.

Mulder

 * Connie Mulder (1925–1988), cabinet minister, father to:
 * Pieter Mulder, Member of Parliament.
 * Corné Mulder, Member of Parliament.

Nchabeleng

 * Peter Nchabeleng (1928–1986), political activist, father to:
 * Elleck Nchabeleng, Member of Parliament.

Ngubane

 * Ben Ngubane (1941–2021), member of cabinet.
 * Harriet Ngubane (1929–2007), Member of Parliament, sister to Ben.

Ntsebeza

 * Dumisa Ntsebeza, lawyer and political activist.
 * Lungisile Ntsebeza, sociologist and political activist, brother to Dumisa.

Ntuli (Cato Ridge)

 * Bheki Ntuli, eThekwini politician, uncle to:
 * Mdumiseni Ntuli, African National Congress politician.
 * Thembo Ntuli, African National Congress politician.

Pahad

 * Amina Pahad, activist; wife of Goolam Pahad, activist; mother to:
 * Aziz Pahad, member of cabinet.
 * Essop Pahad, member of cabinet.

Pheko

 * Charlotte Pheko-Lobe, Member of Parliament.
 * Gertrude Pheko-Mothupi, Member of the Free State Provincial Legislature, sister to Charlotte.

Sebe

 * Lennox Sebe (1926–1994), a chief minister of the Xhosa Bantustan of Ciskei.
 * Charles Sebe (died c. 1991), a leader of the Ciskei Defence Force, the military of the Bantustan of Ciskei, and its Director of State Security; younger brother of Lennox Sebe.

Shaik

 * Moe Shaik, anti-apartheid activist and civil servant.
 * Schabir Shaik, anti-apartheid activist and businessman, brother to Moe.
 * Yunus Shaik, anti-apartheid activist and businessman, brother to Moe and Schabir.
 * Chippy Shaik, anti-apartheid activist and civil servant, brother to Moe, Schabir, and Yunus.

Schreiner

 * William Schreiner (1857–1919), Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1989 to 1900, father to:
 * Olive Schreiner (1855–1920), author and activist.
 * Oliver Schreiner (1890–1980), Supreme Court judge, grandfather to:
 * Jenny Schreiner, Member of Parliament.

Shope

 * Mark Shope, trade unionist; married to Gertrude Shope, Member of Parliament; father to:
 * Ntombi Shope, Member of Parliament.
 * Sheila Sithole, Member of Parliament.
 * Lyndall Shope-Mafole, Member of Parliament.

Sigcau

 * Botha Sigcau (died 1978), President of Transkei from 1976 to 1978, father to:
 * Stella Sigcau (1937–2006), Prime Minister of Transkei in 1987.
 * Ntsikayezwe Sigcau (1947–1996), Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature.

Sisulu

 * Walter Sisulu, political activist; married to Albertina Sisulu, Member of Parliament; father to:
 * Max Sisulu, Member of Parliament; married to Elinor Sisulu, academic and activist.
 * Mlungisi Sisulu, business and activist.
 * Zwelakhe Sisulu, activist and journalist.
 * Lindiwe Sisulu, member of cabinet.
 * Beryl Sisulu, diplomat.

Tambo

 * Oliver Tambo, leader of the African National Congress; married to Adelaide Tambo, Member of Parliament; father to:
 * Dali Tambo, activist and media personality.
 * Nomatemba Tambo, diplomat and politician.

Verwoerd and Boshoff

 * Hendrik Verwoerd (1901–1966), Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 to 1966, married to Betsie Verwoerd (1901–2000); father to:
 * Wilhelm Verwoerd; formerly married to Melanie Verwoerd, Member of Parliament.
 * Anna Boshoff (died 2007); married to Carel Boshoff (1927–2011), founder of Orania; mother to:
 * Carel Boshoff IV, Member of the Northern Cape Legislature and leader of Orania.
 * Wynand Boshoff, Member of Parliament.

Zulu and Buthelezi

 * Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo (1868–1913), King of the Zulus from 1884 to 1913, father to:
 * Solomon kaDinizulu (1890–1933), King of the Zulus from 1913 to 1933, father to:
 * Mcwayizeni Zulu (1931–1999), Member of Parliament.
 * Cyprian Bhekuzulu (1924–1968), King of the Zulus from 1948 to 1968, father to:
 * Goodwill Zwelithini (1948–2021), King of the Zulus from 1971 to 2021, father to:
 * Misuzulu Zulu, King of the Zulus since 2021.
 * Magogo kaDinuzulu (1900–1984), mother to:
 * Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Chief Minister of KwaZulu, father to:
 * Angela Buthelezi, Member of Parliament.
 * Phikisele Harriet kaDinuzulu; married to Pixley ka Seme (1881–1951), president of the African National Congress.

Zuma

 * Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, father to:
 * Duduzane Zuma, businessman and media personality.
 * Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, politician and media personality.
 * Thuthukile Zuma, civil servant and media personality.
 * Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube, media personality; daughter-in-law of Welshman Ncube, leader of Movement for Democratic Change – Ncube.
 * Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, member of cabinet, formerly married to Jacob, mother of Thuthukile and Gugulethu.
 * Hlobisile Dlamini, sister of Nkosazana.

Other marriages

 * Rusty Bernstein and Hilda Bernstein
 * Steve Biko and Mamphela Ramphele
 * Andries Botha and Sandra Botha
 * Hendry Cupido and Pauline Cupido
 * Paul Ditshetelo and Celia Ditshetelo
 * Henry Fazzie and Buyiswa Fazzie
 * Sipho Gcabashe and Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe
 * Chris Hani and Limpho Hani
 * Ahmed Kathrada and Barbara Hogan
 * Ronnie Kasrils and Eleanor Kasrils
 * Jacob Khawe and Thuliswa Nkabinde-Khawe
 * Jacob Khawe and Khusela Diko
 * Gcina Malindi and Caroline Nicholls
 * George Mashamba and Joyce Mashamba
 * Ismail Chota Meer and Fatima Meer
 * Zibuse Mlaba and Bongi Sithole-Moloi
 * Mendi Msimang and Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
 * Abraham Mzizi and Gertrude Mzizi
 * Bulelani Ngcuka and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
 * Sifiso Nkabinde and Nonhlanhla Nkabinde
 * Charles Nqakula and Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
 * Mamabolo Nwedamutswu and Thembi Nwedamutswu
 * Mathole Motshekga and Angie Motshekga
 * Griffiths Mxenge and Victoria Mxenge
 * Mathews Phosa and Pinky Phosa
 * Vusi Pikoli and Girly Pikoli
 * Amichand Rajbansi and Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi
 * Zola Saphetha and Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha
 * Steve Tshwete and Pam Tshwete
 * Ben Turok and Mary Turok
 * Tony Yengeni and Lumka Yengeni