The simple, small leaves of Myrsine africana are alternate on short stalks that are sometimes red. The leaf-shape is lanceolate, elliptic or nearly round. The leaf margins are entire in the lower half, fine toothing sometimes spaced towards the tip. The margins are just perceptibly rolled under.

The blades are leathery, hairless and glossy green with fine mottling often visible. Stem-tip leaves are yellow-green. The leaf midrib is prominent on the lower surface, the leaf slightly folded in along this main vein. Lateral veins are not seen.

The younger stems are pale yellowish green, the older ones reddish (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997).