List of political families in South Africa

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

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 (1930–1985), political activist.
  • Judy Chalmers, 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 (1930–2013), Member of Parliament; married to Yusuf Cachalia, political activist; mother to:
    • Ghaleb Cachalia, Member of Parliament.
• Ismail Cachalia, Member of Parliament, father to:
  • Firoz Cachalia, Member of Parliament.
  • Azhar Cachalia, anti-apartheid activist.

Dangor

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

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

See also: Family of Mahatma Gandhi

• 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 Christian 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

See also: Mandela family

• 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 apartheid detainee, the 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, 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.
  • Moeletsi Mbeki, political activist.

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, 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), defendant in the Rivonia Trial; 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.

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:
  • Zwelakhe Sisulu, activist and journalist.
  • Lindiwe Sisulu, member of cabinet.
  • Max Sisulu, Member of Parliament; married to Elinor Sisulu, academic and activist.
  • Beryl Sisulu (adopted), 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

See also: Zulu royal family

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