# List of South Africa national cricket captains

South Africa played its first Test match in cricket in 1889 against England at Port Elizabeth, becoming the third Test nation after England and Australia. This is a list of the men and women who have been the official South African captains in cricket.
South Africa was a founder member of the International Cricket Council in 1909. However, the South African team did not play official Test cricket from 1970 to 1991, having been suspended from membership by the ICC as a result of controversy over apartheid (most particularly the reaction to the Basil d'Oliveira affair). There were a number of rebel tours to South Africa in the intervening period, but none of the matches are recognised as official Test matches and are italicised below. South Africa rejoined the ICC, and resumed playing official Test cricket, in 1991.

## Men's cricket
### Test match captains

This is a list of cricketers who have captained the South African cricket team for at least one Test match. Where a player has a dagger (†) next to a Test match series in which he captained at least one Test, that denotes that player deputised for the appointed captain or were appointed by the home authority for a minor proportion in a series. The dagger classification follows that adopted by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.
The table of results is complete up to the second Test against Australia in December 2022.
South African Test match captains :
| Number | Image | Name | Season | Report | Opposition | Location | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn |
| 1 | | Owen Dunell | 1888–89 | Report | England | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | | William Milton | 1888–89 | Report | England | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | | William Milton | 1891–92 | Report | England | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | | William Milton | Total | Total | Total | Total | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | | Ernest Halliwell | 1895–96 | Report | England | South Africa | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | | Ernest Halliwell | 1902–03 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | | Ernest Halliwell | Total | Total | Total | Total | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | | Alfred Richards | 1895–96† | Report | England | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | | Murray Bisset | 1898–99 | Report | England | South Africa | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | | Henry Taberer | 1902–03 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | | Biddy Anderson | 1902–03 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | | Percy Sherwell | 1905–06 | Report | England | South Africa | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | | Percy Sherwell | 1907 | Report | England | England | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | | Percy Sherwell | 1910–11 | Report | Australia | Australia | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 8 | | Percy Sherwell | Total | Total | Total | Total | 13 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| 9 | | Tip Snooke | 1909–10 | Report | England | South Africa | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | | Frank Mitchell | 1912 | Report | Australia | England | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | | Frank Mitchell | 1912 | Report | England | England | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | | Frank Mitchell | Total | Total | Total | Total | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 11 | | Louis Tancred | 1912 | Report | England | England | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | | Louis Tancred | 1912 | Report | Australia | England | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | | Louis Tancred | Total | Total | Total | Total | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 12 | | Herbie Taylor | 1913–14 | Report | England | South Africa | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 12 | | Herbie Taylor | 1921–22 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | | Herbie Taylor | 1922–23 | Report | England | South Africa | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 12 | | Herbie Taylor | 1924 | Report | England | England | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 12 | | Herbie Taylor | Total | Total | Total | Total | 18 | 1 | 10 | 7 |
| 13 | | Nummy Deane | 1927–28 | Report | England | South Africa | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 13 | | Nummy Deane | 1929 | Report | England | England | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 13 | | Nummy Deane | 1930–31 | Report | England | South Africa | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | | Nummy Deane | Total | Total | Total | Total | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 14 | | Buster Nupen | 1930–31† | Report | England | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | | Jock Cameron | 1930–31 | Report | England | South Africa | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | | Jock Cameron | 1931–32 | Report | Australia | Australia | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 15 | | Jock Cameron | 1931–32 | Report | New Zealand | New Zealand | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | | Jock Cameron | Total | Total | Total | Total | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| 16 | | Herbie Wade | 1935 | Report | England | England | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 16 | | Herbie Wade | 1935–36 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 16 | | Herbie Wade | Total | Total | Total | Total | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 17 | | Alan Melville | 1938–39 | Report | England | South Africa | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 17 | | Alan Melville | 1947 | Report | England | England | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 17 | | Alan Melville | Total | Total | Total | Total | 10 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| 18 | | Dudley Nourse | 1948–49 | Report | England | South Africa | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 18 | | Dudley Nourse | 1949–50 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 18 | | Dudley Nourse | 1951 | Report | England | England | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 18 | | Dudley Nourse | Total | Total | Total | Total | 15 | 1 | 9 | 5 |
| 19 | | Jack Cheetham | 1952–53 | Report | Australia | Australia | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 19 | | Jack Cheetham | 1952–53 | Report | New Zealand | New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | | Jack Cheetham | 1953–54 | Report | New Zealand | South Africa | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | | Jack Cheetham | 1955 | Report | England | England | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 19 | | Jack Cheetham | Total | Total | Total | Total | 15 | 7 | 5 | 3 |
| 20 | | Jackie McGlew | 1955† | Report | England | England | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | | Jackie McGlew | 1956–57† | Report | England | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | | Jackie McGlew | 1957–58† | Report | Australia | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 20 | | Jackie McGlew | 1960 | Report | England | England | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 20 | | Jackie McGlew | 1961–62 | Report | New Zealand | South Africa | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 20 | | Jackie McGlew | Total | Total | Total | Total | 14 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| 21 | | Clive van Ryneveld | 1956–57 | Report | England | South Africa | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 21 | | Clive van Ryneveld | 1957–58 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 21 | | Clive van Ryneveld | Total | Total | Total | Total | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 22 | | Trevor Goddard | 1963–64 | Report | Australia | Australia | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 22 | | Trevor Goddard | 1963–64 | Report | New Zealand | New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 22 | | Trevor Goddard | 1964–65 | Report | England | South Africa | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 22 | | Trevor Goddard | Total | Total | Total | Total | 13 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 23 | | Peter van der Merwe | 1965 | Report | England | England | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 23 | | Peter van der Merwe | 1966–67 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 23 | | Peter van der Merwe | Total | Total | Total | Total | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 24 | | Ali Bacher | 1969–70 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| - | | Mike Procter | 1981–82 | Report | England | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| - | | Peter Kirsten | 1982–83 | Report | Sri Lanka | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| - | | Peter Kirsten | 1982–83 | Report | West Indies | South Africa | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| - | | Peter Kirsten | 1983–84 | Report | West Indies | South Africa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| - | | Peter Kirsten | Total | Total | Total | Total | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| - | | Clive Rice | 1983–84† | Report | West Indies | South Africa | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| - | | Clive Rice | 1985–86 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| - | | Clive Rice | 1986–87 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| - | | Clive Rice | Total | Total | Total | Total | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| - | | Jimmy Cook | 1989–90 | Report | England | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | | Kepler Wessels | 1991–92 | Report | West Indies | West Indies | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | | Kepler Wessels | 1992–93 | Report | India | South Africa | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 25 | | Kepler Wessels | 1993–94 | Report | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 25 | | Kepler Wessels | 1993–94 | Report | Australia | Australia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 25 | | Kepler Wessels | 1993–94 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 25 | | Kepler Wessels | 1994 | Report | England | England | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 25 | | Kepler Wessels | Total | Total | Total | Total | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1993–94† | Report | Australia | Australia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1994–95 | Report | New Zealand | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1994–95 | Report | Pakistan | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1994–95 | Report | New Zealand | New Zealand | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1995–96 | Report | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1995–96 | Report | England | South Africa | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1996–97 | Report | India | India | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1996–97 | Report | India | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1996–97 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1997–98 | Report | Pakistan | Pakistan | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1997–98 | Report | Australia | Australia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1997–98 | Report | Pakistan | South Africa | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1997–98 | Report | Sri Lanka | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1998 | Report | England | England | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1998–99 | Report | West Indies | South Africa | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1998–99 | Report | New Zealand | New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1999–2000 | Report | Zimbabwe | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1999–2000 | Report | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1999–2000 | Report | England | South Africa | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | 1999–2000 | Report | India | India | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | | Hansie Cronje | Total | Total | Total | Total | 53 | 27 | 11 | 15 |
| 27 | | Gary Kirsten | 1997–98† | Report | Pakistan | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | | Shaun Pollock | 2000–01 | Report | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 28 | | Shaun Pollock | 2000–01 | Report | New Zealand | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | | Shaun Pollock | 2000–01 | Report | Sri Lanka | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | | Shaun Pollock | 2000–01 | Report | West Indies | West Indies | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 28 | | Shaun Pollock | 2001–02 | Report | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | | Shaun Pollock | 2001–02 | Report | India | South Africa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | | Shaun Pollock | 2001–02 | Report | Australia | Australia | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 28 | | Shaun Pollock | 2002–03 | Report | Bangladesh | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | | Shaun Pollock | 2002–03 | Report | Sri Lanka | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | | Shaun Pollock | 2002–03 | Report | Pakistan | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | | Shaun Pollock | Total | Total | Total | Total | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 |
| 29 | | Mark Boucher | 2001–02 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 29 | | Mark Boucher | 2002–03† | Report | Bangladesh | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | | Mark Boucher | Total | Total | Total | Total | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2003 | Report | Bangladesh | Bangladesh | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2003 | Report | England | England | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2003–04 | Report | Pakistan | Pakistan | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2003–04 | Report | West Indies | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2003–04 | Report | New Zealand | New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2004 | Report | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2004–05 | Report | India | India | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2004–05 | Report | England | South Africa | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2004–05 | Report | Zimbabwe | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2005 | Report | West Indies | West Indies | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2005–06 | Report | Australia | Australia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2005–06 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2005–06 | Report | New Zealand | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2006–07 | Report | India | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2006–07 | Report | Pakistan | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2007–08 | Report | Pakistan | Pakistan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2007–08 | Report | New Zealand | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2007–08 | Report | West Indies | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2007–08 | Report | Bangladesh | Bangladesh | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2007–08 | Report | India | India | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2008 | Report | England | England | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2008–09 | Report | Bangladesh | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2008–09 | Report | Australia | Australia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2008–09 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2009–10 | Report | England | South Africa | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2009–10 | Report | India | India | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2010 | Report | West Indies | West Indies | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2010–11 | Report | Pakistan | United Arab Emirates | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2010–11 | Report | India | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2011–12 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2011–12 | Report | Sri Lanka | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2011–12 | Report | New Zealand | New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2012 | Report | England | England | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2012–13 | Report | Australia | Australia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2012–13 | Report | New Zealand | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2012–13 | Report | Pakistan | South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2013–14 | Report | Pakistan | United Arab Emirates | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2013–14 | Report | India | South Africa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | 2013–14 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 30 | | Graeme Smith | Total | Total | Total | Total | 108 | 53 | 28 | 27 |
| 31 | | Jacques Kallis | 2005–06† | Report | Australia | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 31 | | Jacques Kallis | 2008–09† | Report | Australia | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | | Jacques Kallis | Total | Total | Total | Total | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 32 | | Ashwell Prince | 2006 | Report | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 33 | | Hashim Amla | 2014 | Report | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 33 | | Hashim Amla | 2014 | Report | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | | Hashim Amla | 2014–15 | Report | West Indies | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 33 | | Hashim Amla | 2015 | Report | Bangladesh | Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 33 | | Hashim Amla | 2015–16 | Report | India | India | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 33 | | Hashim Amla | 2015–16 | Report | England | South Africa | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 33 | | Hashim Amla | Total | Total | Total | Total | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| 34 | | AB de Villiers | 2015–16 | Report | England | South Africa | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 34 | | AB de Villiers | 2017–18† | Report | Zimbabwe | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | | AB de Villiers | Total | Total | Total | Total | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 35 | | Faf du Plessis | 2016† | Report | New Zealand | South Africa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 35 | | Faf du Plessis | 2016–17† | Report | Australia | Australia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 35 | | Faf du Plessis | 2016–17 | Report | Sri Lanka | South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | | Faf du Plessis | 2016–17 | Report | New Zealand | New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 35 | | Faf du Plessis | 2017 | Report | England | England | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 35 | | Faf du Plessis | 2017–18 | Report | Bangladesh | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | | Faf du Plessis | 2017–18 | Report | India | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 35 | | Faf du Plessis | 2017–18 | Report | Australia | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 35 | | Faf du Plessis | 2018 | Report | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 35 | | Faf du Plessis | 2018–19 | Report | Pakistan | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | | Faf du Plessis | 2018–19 | Report | Sri Lanka | South Africa | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 35 | | Faf du Plessis | 2019–20 | Report | India | India | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 35 | | Faf du Plessis | 2019–20 | Report | England | South Africa | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 35 | | Faf du Plessis | Total | Total | Total | Total | 36 | 18 | 15 | 3 |
| 36 | | Dean Elgar | 2017† | Report | England | England | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 36 | | Dean Elgar | 2018–19† | Report | Pakistan | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | | Dean Elgar | 2021 | Report | West Indies | West Indies | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | | Dean Elgar | 2021–22 | Report | India | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 36 | | Dean Elgar | 2021–22 | Report | New Zealand | New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 36 | | Dean Elgar | 2021–22 | Report | Bangladesh | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | | Dean Elgar | 2022 | Report | England | England | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 36 | | Dean Elgar | 2022–23 | Report | Australia | Australia | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 36 | | Dean Elgar | 2023–24† | Report | India | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 36 | | Dean Elgar | Total | Total | Total | Total | 18 | 9 | 8 | 0 |
| 37 | | Quinton de Kock | 2020–21 | Report | Sri Lanka | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | | Quinton de Kock | 2020–21 | Report | Pakistan | Pakistan | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 37 | | Quinton de Kock | Total | Total | Total | Total | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 38 | | Temba Bavuma | 2023 | Report | West Indies | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | | Temba Bavuma | 2023–24 | Report | India | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | | Temba Bavuma | 2024 | Report | West Indies | West Indies | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | | Temba Bavuma | 2024 | Report | Sri Lanka | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | | Temba Bavuma | 2024-25 | Report | Pakistan | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | | Temba Bavuma | Total | Total | Total | Total | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 39 | | Neil Brand | 2023–24† | Report | New Zealand | New Zealand | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 40 | | Aiden Markram | 2024–25† | Report | Bangladesh | Bangladesh | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | 468 | 181 | 161 | 126 |

### One Day International captains

This is a complete list of cricketers who have captained South Africa in at least one One Day International. Updated on 1 March 2025.
South African ODI captains :
| Number | Name | Period of captaincy | Played | Won | Lost | Tied | No result | % won |
| 1 | Clive Rice | 1991 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| 2 | Kepler Wessels | 1992–1994 | 52 | 20 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 40.00 |
| 3 | Hansie Cronje | 1994–2000 | 138 | 99 | 35 | 1 | 3 | 73.70 |
| 4 | Shaun Pollock | 2000–2005 | 92 | 59 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 66.48 |
| 5 | Graeme Smith | 2003–2011 | 149 | 92 | 51 | 1 | 5 | 64.23 |
| 6 | Mark Boucher | 2003 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| 7 | Nicky Boje | 2005 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| 8 | Jacques Kallis | 2006–2010 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 50.00 |
| 9 | Johan Botha | 2008–2010 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| 10 | Hashim Amla | 2011–2015 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 44.44 |
| 11 | AB de Villiers | 2012–2017 | 103 | 59 | 39 | 1 | 4 | 60.10 |
| 12 | Faf du Plessis | 2013–2019 | 39 | 28 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 73.68 |
| 13 | Aiden Markram | 2018–2025 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 46.66 |
| 14 | Quinton de Kock | 2018–2020 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 57.14 |
| 15 | JP Duminy | 2018 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| 16 | Temba Bavuma | 2021–present | 41 | 22 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 55.00 |
| 17 | Keshav Maharaj | 2021–2022 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 40.00 |
| 18 | David Miller | 2022 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 19 | Rassie van der Dussen | 2024 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | 664 | 403 | 234 | 6 | 21 | 60.69 |

### Twenty20 International captains

This is a list of cricketers who have captained South Africa for at least one Twenty20 International.
Updated on 23 October 2021.
South Africa Twenty20 International captains :
| Number | Name | Period of captaincy | Played | Won | Lost | Tied | No result | % won |
| 1 | Graeme Smith | 2005–2010 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 |
| 2 | Shaun Pollock | 2007 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 3 | Johan Botha | 2008–2012 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 72.72 |
| 4 | Hashim Amla | 2011 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| 5 | AB de Villiers | 2012–2017 | 18 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 47.05 |
| 6 | Faf du Plessis | 2012–2019 | 37 | 23 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 63.51 |
| 7 | JP Duminy | 2014–2019 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 54.54 |
| 8 | Justin Ontong | 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| 9 | Farhaan Behardien | 2017 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| 10 | David Miller | 2019 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| 11 | Quinton de Kock | 2019-2021 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 27.27 |
| 12 | Heinrich Klaasen | 2021 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 |
| 13 | Temba Bavuma | 2021–2023 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 |
| 14 | Keshav Maharaj | 2021 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| 15 | Aiden Markram | 2023–present | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | 145 | 82 | 61 | 1 | 1 | 57.34 |

## Women's cricket
### Women's Test match captains

This is a list of cricketers who have captained the South African women's cricket team for at least one women's Test match. Where a player has a dagger (†) next to a Test match series in which she captained at least one Test, that denotes that player was captain for a minor proportion in a series.
South African women's Test captains :
| Number | Name | Season | Opposition | Location | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | % won |
| 1 | Sheelagh Nefdt | 1960–1961 | England | South Africa | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.00 |
| 2 | Maureen Payne | 1972 | New Zealand | South Africa | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.00 |
| 3 | Cindy Eksteen | 2002 | India | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 4 | Alison Hodgkinson | 2003 | England | England | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 |
| 5 | Cri-Zelda Brits | 2007 | Netherlands | Netherlands | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| 6 | Mignon du Preez | 2014 | India | India | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 7 | Suné Luus | 2022 | England | England | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
| 8 | Laura Wolvaardt | 2024 | India | India | 1 | | | | |
| Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 7.69 |

### Women's One-Day International captains

This is a list of cricketers who have captained the South African women's cricket team for at least one women's one-day international. The table of results is complete up to the third WODI against India on 12 March 2021.
South African women's ODI captains :
| Number | Name | Year | Played | Won | Lost | Tied | No result | % won |
| 1 | Kim Price | 1997–2000 | 26 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 52.00 |
| 2 | Linda Olivier | 1999 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 3 | Cindy Eksteen | 1999–2002 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 40.00 |
| 4 | Alison Hodgkinson | 2003–2005 | 19 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 22.22 |
| 5 | Cri-zelda Brits | 2007–2011 | 23 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 72.72 |
| 6 | Sunette Loubser | 2009 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
| 7 | Alicia Smith | 2009 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 8 | Mignon du Preez | 2011–2016 | 46 | 24 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 55.81 |
| 9 | Dinesha Devnarain | 2016 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 66.6 |
| 10 | Dane van Niekerk | 2016–2021 | 50 | 29 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 61.22 |
| 11 | Lizelle Lee | 2016 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 12 | Sune Luus | 2017–present | 34 | 19 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 62.50 |
| 13 | Chloe Tryon | 2017–2018 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 |
| 14 | Laura Wolvaardt | 2021 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | 227 | 118 | 94 | 5 | 10 | 51.98 |

### Women's Twenty20 Internationals

This is a list of cricketers who have captained the South African women's cricket team for at least one Women's Twenty20 International. It is complete up to the sixth T20I against India on 4 October 2019.
South African women's T20I captains :
| Number | Name | Year | Played | Won | Lost | Tied | No result | % won |
| 1 | Cri-zelda Brits | 2007–2010 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| 2 | Sunette Loubser | 2009 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 3 | Alicia Smith | 2009 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 4 | Mignon du Preez | 2011–2016 | 50 | 24 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 48.97 |
| 5 | Dane van Niekerk | 2014–2021 | 30 | 15 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 50.00 |
| 6 | Dinesha Devnarain | 2016 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| 7 | Chloe Tryon | 2018–2022 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| 8 | Sune Luus | 2019–present | 26 | 12 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 48.00 |
| Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | 132 | 58 | 70 | 0 | 3 | 43.93 |

## Youth cricket
### Test match captains

This is a list of cricketers who have captained the South African U-19 cricket team for at least one under-19 Test match. The table of results is complete to the away second Test against India in February 2019. Where a player has a dagger (†) next to a Test match series in which he captained at least one Test, that denotes that player was captain for a minor proportion in a series.
South African Under-19 Test match captains :
| Number | Name | Year | Opposition | Location | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn |
| 1 | Neil McKenzie | 1995 | England | England | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Douglas Gain | 1996 | India | India | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | Philip Hearle | 1997 | Pakistan | South Africa | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 4 | Matthew Street | 1997 | England | South Africa | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Thami Tsolekile | 1999 | Pakistan | Pakistan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | Rivash Gobind | 2001 | New Zealand | New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 7 | Imraan Khan | 2003 | England | England | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Wayne Parnell | 2007/08 | Bangladesh | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Wayne Parnell | 2008 | India | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Wayne Parnell | Total | Total | Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | Jonathan Vandiar | 2008 | India | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Diego Rosier | 2013 | England | South Africa | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | Sibonelo Makhanya | 2014 | England | England | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | Wiaan Mulder | 2016 | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 13 | Wandile Makwetu | 2018 | England | England | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 14 | Matt Montgomery | 2019 | India | India | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | 34 | 4 | 14 | 16 |

### Youth One-day International captains

This is a list of cricketers who have captained the South African Under-19 cricket team for at least one Under-19 One Day International. The table of results is complete up to the conclusion of the away fifth ODI against Bangladesh in July 2023.
South African Under-19 ODI captains :
| Number | Name | Year | Played | Won | Lost | No result |
| 1 | Neil McKenzie | 1995 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | Douglas Gain | 1996 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | Wade Wingfield | 1997 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Philip Hearle | 1997 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Matthew Street | 1998 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Thami Tsolekile | 1999–2000 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 7 | Johan Botha | 2001 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Rivash Gobind | 2001 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Hashim Amla | 2002 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | Imraan Khan | 2003 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Divan van Wyk | 2004 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 12 | Dean Elgar | 2005–2006 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| 13 | Jonathan Vandiar | 2008–2009 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 14 | Wayne Parnell | 2008 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 15 | Josh Richards | 2009–2010 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 16 | Keaton Jennings | 2010–2011 | 16 | 13 | 2 | 1 |
| 17 | Shaylen Pillay | 2011 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Quinton de Kock | 2012 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| 20 | Prenelan Subrayen | 2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Chad Bowes | 2012 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | Diego Rosier | 2013 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Yaseen Valli | 2013 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 24 | Aiden Markram | 2013–2014 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Sibonelo Makhanya | 2014–2015 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 26 | Marques Ackerman | 2014 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | Tony de Zorzi | 2015–2016 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 |
| 28 | Kyle Verreynne | 2015 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | Willem Ludick | 2015 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | Wiaan Mulder | 2016-2017 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 31 | Mitchell Van Buuren | 2017 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 32 | Raynard van Tonder | 2017-2018 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 33 | Wandile Makwetu | 2018 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Matt Montgomery | 2019 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Bryce Parsons | 2019-2020 | 17 | 4 | 13 | 0 |
| 36 | Khanya Cotani | 2019 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 37 | George Van Heerden | 2021-2022 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 38 | David Teeger | 2023 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 39 | Juan James | 2023 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Grand total | Grand total | Grand total | 216 | 116 | 97 | 4 |