List of political families in South Africa explained

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.^[1]

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.^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

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.^[6]

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.^[7]

Koornhof

• Piet Koornhof (1925–2007), member of cabinet, father to:
  • Gerhard Koornhof, Member of Parliament.
• Nic Koornhof, Member of Parliament, cousin to Piet.^[8]

Luthuli

• Albert Luthuli (–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.^[9]

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, 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.^[10]

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.^[11]

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.^[12]

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.^[13]

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.^[14]

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.^[15]

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.^[16]

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.^[17]

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.^[18]
    • 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.^[19]

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Malan . Marlene . 19 September 2004 . Money behind break-up . 2023-05-12 . News24 . en-US.
2. News: 11 May 2016 . Fearless Blackburn made real difference . IOL . 11 April 2023.
3. News: Herbstein . Denis . 2008-07-08 . Brian Bunting . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-04-21 . 0261-3077.
4. News: 6 September 2020 . Tributes pour in for author, political activist Achmat Dangor . IOL . 20 May 2023.
5. Cobbett . William . 1995 . Joe Slovo: Mensch . Review of African Political Economy . 22 . 63 . 95–97 . 0305-6244.
6. Web site: 2006-10-12 . Kak praat . 2023-04-23 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
7. Web site: Thamm . Marianne . 2022-04-17 . Rhoda Kadalie, friend and mentor, political provocateur and groot bek . 2023-05-27 . Daily Maverick . en.
8. Web site: Gunning . Eugene . 14 November 2007 . Dr Koornhof was 'funny, honest' . 2023-04-21 . News24 . en-US.
9. Web site: 20 August 2017 . Manana stays on as an MP . 2023-04-13 . News24 . en-US.
10. Web site: 2010-08-19 . Former deputy minister Joe Matthews dies . 2023-05-20 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
11. Book: Vahed, Goolam H. . Muslim portraits: the anti-apartheid struggle . 2012 . 978-1-874945-25-3 . Durban, South Africa . 222-246 . 858966865.
12. Web site: 2007-09-12 . ANC gets majority rule — in Morkel family . 2023-05-21 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
13. News: 25 June 2007 . Father of SA tycoon dies . IOL . 20 May 2023.
14. Web site: 1997-11-07 . Who is... Dumisa Ntsebeza? . 2024-07-12 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
15. Web site: 2006-04-07 . Free State municipal mafia foiled . 2023-05-16 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
16. Dominy . Graham A. . 2022 . Schreiner family narratives: Written and oral sources in biographical research . HTS Theological Studies . 78 . 3 . 1–12 . 10.4102/hts.v78i3.7693 . 0259-9422. free .
17. Web site: 14 May 2019 . Verwoerd's grandson on his way to Parliament . 2023-06-08 . News24 . en-US.
18. Web site: 1994-09-23 . The Affable Man Who Has Ousted Buthelezi . 2023-04-15 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
19. News: Samayende . Sizwe . 2004-01-12 . Struggle hero honoured . News24 . 2017-05-15.