The leaves of Dovyalis caffra grow in tight clusters on hard stem cushions found on small side-branchlets. The leaves have short petioles becoming up to 5 mm long. The leaf blade is narrowly or broadly obovate, flat with rounded or notched tip. Leaves vary in width, their margins entire and slightly rolled under. The dark green leaves are leathery and glossy above, paler below. Veins are prominent upon both surfaces. Young leaves are sparsely hairy, older ones glabrous.

One straight spine shows itself in picture (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Pooley, 1993).