1923 in South Africa
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Incumbents
- Monarch: King George V.
- Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa:
- Prince Arthur of Connaught (until 5 December).[1]
- Sir James Rose Innes (acting, from 5 December).
- Prime Minister: Jan Smuts.
- Chief Justice: Sir James Rose Innes.
Events
- March
- 1 â The Electricity Supply Commission (Eskom), largest electricity producer in Africa, is established.
- Unknown date
- The South African Native National Congress changes its name to African National Congress.
Births
- 10 April â John Watkins, cricketer (d. 2021)
- 30 April â Francis Tucker, rally Driver. (d. 2008)
- 19 May â Johannes Meintjes, artist and writer. (d. 1980)
- 6 August â Moira Lister, South African-born English film, stage and television actress. (d. 2007)
- 5 October â Glynis Johns, South African-born Welsh actress. (d. 2024)
- 11 October â Moses Mabhida, anti-apartheid activist. (d. 1986)
- 11 November â Pieter van der Byl, politician (d. 1999)
- 20 November â Nadine Gordimer, writer and political activist. (d. 2014)
- 17 December â Wilton Mkwayi, anti-apartheid activist. (d. 2004)
Deaths
- 10 October â Herman Gottfried Breijer, Dutch-born South African naturalist
Railways
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Railway lines opened
- 12 April â Transvaal â Dunswart to Apex deviation, 4 miles 16 chains (6.8 kilometres).[2]
- 21 May â Natal â Queen's Bridge to Duff's Road deviation, 5 miles 55 chains (9.2 kilometres).[2]
- 8 July â Natal â Canelands, Umdloti to Maidstone deviation, 6 miles 74 chains (11.1 kilometres).[2]
- 6 August â Cape â Kamfersdam to Winter's Rush, 34 miles 29 chains (55.3 kilometres).[2]
- 9 August â Cape â Belmont to Douglas, 53 miles 22 chains (85.7 kilometres).[2]
- 30 October â Transvaal â Settlers to Tuinplaas, 13 miles 22 chains (21.4 kilometres).[2]
Locomotives
- The New Cape Central Railway places two 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type Garratt articulated steam locomotives in service. They will be designated Class GK on the South African Railways (SAR) in 1925.[3][4][5]
- Major Frank Dutton, SAR Signal Engineer and the Motor Transport Superintendent, conducts trials with a prototype petrol-paraffin powered Dutton road-rail tractor.[5][6]
- Mr. C. Lawson, Superintendent Mechanical of the SAR, experiments with gas-electric motive power and constructs a single experimental producer gas-electric locomotive. The locomotive remains in service for several years but the gas-electric concept will eventually be superseded by diesel-electric traction.[5][6][7]