The simple leaves of Olea capensis subsp. capensis are opposite, crowded near stem-tips and hairless. They grow on petioles of up to 1 cm long, usually grooved on top and sometimes purplish.

The blade is broadly elliptic to obovate or almost round and variable. The leaf-tip tapers acutely or is almost rounded, notched or ending in a tiny protrusion or mucro. The base tapers. The thickened margins are entire and rolled under, fibrous when pulled apart.

The leaf colour is pale to dark green and glossy above, paler below where the midrib is more prominent along the length of the blade. The leaf texture is stiffly leathery and smooth.

Leaf dimensions are 3 cm to 9 cm by 1,5 cm to 5 cm but usually shorter than 6 cm (Venter, 2011; Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997).