1886 in South Africa
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Incumbents
- Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Hercules Robinson.
- Governor of the Colony of Natal: Henry Ernest Gascoyne Bulwer.
- State President of the Orange Free State: Jan Brand.
- State President of the South African Republic: Paul Kruger.
- Prime Minister of the Cape of Good Hope: Thomas Upington (until 24 November), John Gordon Sprigg (starting 24 November).
Events
- September
- The main gold reef on the Witwatersrand is discovered, giving birth to Ferreira's Camp, later to be named Johannesburg.
- October
- 11 â The Standard Bank of South Africa opens the first bank in Ferreira's Camp.
Births
- 2 January â Billy Zulch, South African cricketer (d. 1924)
- 13 December â Henry Selby Msimang, political activist, journalist, court interpreter and lay preacher, is born in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg.
Deaths
- 1 September â Sir John Charles Molteno, first Prime Minister of the Cape Colony.
Railways
Railway lines opened
Locomotives
- The first of three 0-4-0 well-tank condensing locomotives is placed in service by the Cape Copper Mining Company on its 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge Namaqualand Railway between Port Nolloth and O'okiep in the Cape Colony. They are the first condensing steam locomotives in South Africa.[2]