1871 in South Africa
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Incumbents
- Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Sir Henry Barkly.
- Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of Natal: Robert William Keate.
- State President of the Orange Free State: Jan Brand.[1]
- State President of the South African Republic:
- Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (until 20 November).[2]
- Daniel Jacobus Erasmus (acting from 21 November).[2]
Events
- October
- 27 â British forces march into the Klipdrift Republic and annex the territory as Griqualand West Colony.
- November
- 21 â Daniel Jacobus Erasmus becomes acting State President of the South African Republic.[2]
- Unknown date
- Gold is discovered at Pilgrim's Creek in the Pilgrim's Rest area.
- When an 83.50 carats (16.700 g) diamond is discovered, a diamond rush results and the town of New Rush springs up.
Births
- 9 January â Eugène Marais, lawyer, naturalist, poet and writer. (d. 1936)
- 7 April â Charlotte Maxeke, religious leader, social worker and political activist. (d. 1939)
Deaths
- 4 October â Sarel Cilliers, Voortrekker leader and preacher. (b. 1801)
Railways
Railway lines opened
- 18 February â Namaqualand â Port Nolloth to Muishondfontein, 44 miles 40 chains (71.6 kilometres).[3]
Locomotives
- Two 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge 0-6-0 tank locomotives are placed in service by the Cape of Good Hope Copper Mining Company, the first steam locomotives to enter service on the hitherto mule-powered Namaqualand Railway between Port Nolloth and the Namaqualand copper mines around O'okiep in the Cape Colony.[3]