This taxonomie study comprises a general review of the distribution, classification and extemal morphology of 16 South African stigmaeid species. A new genus, Pilonychiopus, is described and figured with a new species, P . cliffortus, as type species. Other new species described and figured are: Pilonychiopus tutus, Eryngiopus discus, E. bidens, E. lindei, Pseudostigmaeus capensis, Stigmaeus sagenatus, Agistemus tranatalensis, A. inflatus, A. sanctiluciae and Mullederia centrata. Three other known species are redescribed. Villersia oudemansi Meyer and Ryke is transferred to the genus Cheylostigmaeus.