1931 in South Africa

Events

January

• 26 – George Villiers, 6th Earl of Clarendon, is appointed the 5th Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.

December

• 11 – The Statute of Westminster grants sovereignty to the British dominions.

Births

• 21 January – Joseph Engenas Matlhakanye Lekganyane, founder of the Dove faction of the Zion Christian Church later to be renamed the St Engenas Zion Christian Church
• 19 April – Hendrik Jacobus Coetsee, politician, is born in Ladybrand, Orange Free State.
• 7 October – Desmond Mpilo Tutu, social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop, is born in Klerksdorp, Transvaal.

Deaths

• 9 January – Second Boer War general Johannes Gerhardus Celliers dies at the age of 70.
• 24 January – James Percy FitzPatrick (68), dies in Uitenhage

Railways

Railway lines opened

• 3 June – Cape – Molteno to Jamestown, 41 miles 72 chains (67.4 kilometres).^[1]
• 1 July – Natal – Chailey to Mount Alida, 25 miles 33 chains (40.9 kilometres).^[1]
• 1 July – Natal – Greyville Cabin to Berea Road, 1 mile 36 chains (2.3 kilometres).^[1]

Locomotives

Two new narrow gauge steam locomotive types enter service on the South African Railways (SAR):

• A single light narrow gauge Class NG G14 2-6-2+2-6-2 Garratt articulated steam locomotive.^[2]:107
• Three narrow gauge 2-8-2 Mikado locomotives for the Otavi Mining and Railway Company in South West Africa. In 1960 they would become the Class NG15 Apple Express Kalaharis on the narrow gauge Avontuur Railway.^[2]:108

Sports

Rugby

• 19 December – The South African Springboks beat Ireland 8-3 in Ireland.

References