aureus_), certain non-aureus staphylococci (NAS), some _Streptococcus dysgalactiae_ and _Streptococcus agalactiae_, are organisms that can adapt to surviving within the mammary parenchyma of the host, causing subclinical infections [11]. Environmental pathogens, such as members of the Enterobacteriaceae (particularly _E. coli_), _Streptococcus uterus_, and non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) [7], are opportunistic invaders of the mammary gland, and they are not adapted to survive within the host as is the case with adapted pathogens. However, they can invade and multiply within the mammary gland and stimulate the host-response system [8]. In South Africa, [PERSON] et al. in their 2009 review [7] suggested that _S. aureus_ remains a major pathogen of bovine mastitis. Isolation of _Staphylococcus_ spp. is a common occurrence in both clinical and subclinical mastitis cases, with NAS showing a rising trend, and antibacterial resistance reportedly common among these species. Certain isolates have been found to be resistant to as many as six commonly used antibiotics, highlighting the growing concern of treatment failure and the resulting increase in the cost of treating bovine mastitis. The wide usage of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of pathogens found in mastitis in veterinary medicine is plagued with limited success due to the increasing prevalence of resistance to commonly used antimicrobial agents [12]. Most antibiotics (particularly \(\beta\)-lactams) used in mastitis treatment are reported to be ineffective against _Staphylococcus aureus_, which is capable of releasing toxins that compromise the natural defences of the udder [13]. In a recent report, 90% of NAS strains isolated from mastitis milk in South Africa exhibited resistance to at least one antibacterial agent, while 51% showed multidrug resistance [14]. Plant-derived natural products have been established as effective models for the development of new drugs since they have shown a range of useful biological activities. The use of natural plant products has increasingly become a recognized treatment for several ailments, and this is one of the rapidly growing sectors of the agribusiness industry [15]. Given the rising prevalence of _Staphylococcus_ species and their growing resistance to commonly used antibiotics, there is a global effort to investigate natural products as potential sources of new and safer drugs [7; 14]. South Africa is home to a diverse flora used for phytotherapeutic purposes, especially in traditional medicine, while some scientific rationale for their uses has been documented [16]. There are various local and global initiatives currently underway to investigate the botanical resources of southern Africa. The aim of these efforts is to analyze indigenous plants in order to identify potentially beneficial pharmacological compounds [17]. It has been cautioned that in cases where plants have been used therapeutically for many years,it is likely that researchers assume that they are safe and exclude evaluating toxicological aspects of the traditional medicinal plant [17]. However, together with bioactivity screening for useful compounds, toxicity testing in vitro is a crucial aspect of preliminary safety evaluations of plant-derived extracts and compounds before recommending them for continued development and commercialization [18]. This study aimed to investigate the extracts of nine selected South African plants for their antibacterial activity against drug-resistant strains of _S. aureus_ and NAS isolated from clinical cases of bovine mastitis. The cytotoxic effects of extracts of three plants selected based on their unique antibacterial activities were also determined to evaluate their antibacterial efficacy.