It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

At eight centimetres (3 in) in length, it is one of the smallest species of bird found in Africa, along with its cousins the grey penduline tit and the mouse-coloured penduline tit.

[2][3] The Cape penduline tit was formally described and illustrated in 1812 by the English naturalist George Shaw under the binomial name Sylvia minuta.

[4] The species is now placed in the genus Anthoscopus that was introduced in 1851 by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis.

[7] Three subspecies are recognised:[6] They build a globular nest made of the webs of Stegodyphus spiders as well as silken fibre from various plants.