A taxonomic revision of the Southern African members of the family Oedemeridae is presented. It is based on the examination of the type material of all previously described species in the region, as well as on almost 400 additional specimens. The genera Nacatrorus and Melananthoides are described as new to science. Seven of the twenty-eight species recorded in Southern Africa are described as new. Probosca maraisi, P. endroedyi, Ditylomorphus blasae, Ditylomorphula crinita, D. mecophallica, D. albalatei and D. espanyoli. A total of fourteen new combinations are proposed: Eobia fusciventris, Ditylomorphus inconstans, Ditylomorphula nigrimembris, Ditylomorphula subfasciata, Ditylomorphula marginipennis, and Nacatrorus hottentotus (transferred from Ananca), Alloxantha holoxantha and Colobostomoides marshalli (transferred from Sessinia), Microsessinia marshalli and Microsesssinia abdominalis (transferred from Asclerosibutia), Pseudohyperasclera vittaticollis (transferred from Ditylus), Afrochitona clarimaculata (transferred from Chitona), Apterosessinia longula (transferred from Pterosessinia), and Melananthoides senex (transferred from Melananthia). The genus Achitona Švihla, 1985 is proposed as new synonym of Anacerdochroa Švihla, 1985, and Sessinia vittatithorax BLAIR, 1926 as new synonym of Ditylus vittaticollis GERSTAECKER, 1871. Afrochitona, described as a subgenus of Chitona, is raised to generic rank, while Pterosessina, described as a separate genus, is regarded as a subgenus of Apterosessinia. The genera Alloxantha, Eobia and Pseudohyperasclera are recorded from the Afrotropical Region for the first time, while the genera Probosca, Ditylomorphus and Ditylomorphula are recorded from Southern Africa for the first time. Keys to the Southern African genera and species are given. All species are described, and all descriptions are accompanied by habitus and male and female genital illustrations, and distributions maps. Lectotypes for the following species are designated: Eobia fusciventris, Colobostomoides marshalli, Afrochitona clarimaculata, Ditylomorphus inconstans, Ditylomorphula subfasciata, D. marginipennis, Apterosessinia peringueyi, Melananthia costipennis, Microsessinia neavei, M, marshalli and M. terminalis. Keywords: Coleoptera, Oedemeridae, taxonomic revision, new genera, new species, new synonyms, new combinations, identification keys, Afrotropical region, Southern Africa (Namibia), Botswana, Zimbabwe, Southern Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa.