Up-to-date information is given on the identity, occurrence, nomenclature, host ranges, geographical distribution and literature references of the Urediniomycetes in South Africa. Species of the family Melampsoraceae and all species of the family Pucciniaceae other than those in the genera Puccinia Pers. and Uromyces (Link) Unger are listed. New species records since 1945 include the following: Melampsora allii-populirui Kleb.. Melampsora coleosporioides Dietel. Melampsora laricipopulina Kleb.. Melampsora medusae Thiim., Frommea obtusa-duchesneae (Arthur) Arthur. Hemileia gardeniae-thunbergiae Maubl. Roger. Phakopsora gossypii (Arthur) Hirats. F. Uromycladium tepperianum (Sacc.) McAlpine and Tranzschelia discolor (Fuckel) Tranzschel M.A. Litv. Although many species of rusts have already been recorded, these are thought to represent only a small percentage of the rust population in southern Africa. Furthermore, only a small portion of rust specimens at present housed at PREM have so far been studied. Continued research on this economically important group of fungi is therefore essential.