1871 in South Africa
# 1871 in South Africa

The following lists events that happened during 1871 in South Africa.

## 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.
* State President of the South African Republic:
   * Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (until 20 November).
   * Daniel Jacobus Erasmus (acting from 21 November).

## Events

### October

* 27 – British forces march into the Klipdrift Republic and annex the territory as Griqualand West Colony.

### November

* 21 – Daniel Jacobus Erasmus becomes acting State President of the South African Republic.

### 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 – Eugène Marais, lawyer, naturalist, poet and writer. (d. 1936)
* 7 April – Charlotte Maxeke, religious leader, social worker and political activist. (d. 1939)

## Deaths

* 4 October – Sarel Cilliers, Voortrekker leader and preacher. (b. 1801)

## Railways

### Railway lines opened

* 18 February – Namaqualand – Port Nolloth to Muishondfontein, 44 miles 40 chains (71.6 kilometres).

### 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.
