A new monotypic genus of dark sac spiders is described from the western Soutpansberg Mountains in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Vendaphaea gen. n., with the type species V. lajuma sp. n., can be recognised by a peculiar genitalic morphology, closely situated posterior median eyes, lateral eyes on slight tubercles and the densely setose and heavily spined anterior legs. The genus is provisionally placed in Corinnidae incertae sedis and may be most closely related to the South African genera Pronophaea Simon, 1897 and Austrophaea Lawrence, 1952, and tropical African genus Mandaneta Strand, 1932. Vendaphaea lajuma sp. n. occurs in leaf litter and amongst grasses in montane savannah habitats.

To cite this paper: Haddad, C.R. 2009. Vendaphaea, a new dark sac spider genus apparently endemic to the Soutpansberg Mountains, South Africa (Araneae: Corinnidae). African Invertebrates 50 (2): 269-278.