The species of Pelochrus Muls. occurring in South Africa and South West Africa/Namibia are revised. Abeillea capicola Wittm. is transferred to Pelochrus. Twelve species and one subspecies are described as new to science, namely: P. transvaalensis, appendicifer, insulcalus, karrooensis, gemsbokensis, diminutoculatus, obibensis, testaceiceps, basilimbatus, longistilus, namaquaensis, stylifer, perpusillus botrivierensis. A key to the species is given. The genus Brachypelochrus is described with B. politus as type-species. This new genus is closely related to Pelochrus and includes B. politus and semipolitus, both new to science. Keywords: Coleoptera, Malachiidae, Pelochrus, Brachypelochrus, Species identification key.