A review of a small South African genus Vauanthes Haw. (Crassulaceae), endemic of the south-west of Western Cape Province (Republic of South Africa) is given. The genus is shown to be well distinguished morphologically from Crassula s. str., but was unmeritedly forgotten and its species were included in Crassula s. l. A new system of the genus including two sections and 5 species is presented. Several new combinations (Vauanthes sect. Dinacria (Harv.) Byalt comb. nova, V. depressa (Eckl. et Zeyh.) Byalt comb. nova, V. filiformis (Eckl. et Zeyh.) Byalt comb. nova and V. grammanthoides (Schonl.) Byalt comb. nova) are proposed. The key for the species determination, brief synonymy for subgenera and species, information on types, ecology, phenology and geographical distribution of the species is given.