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The following lists events that happened during 1871 in South Africa.
Contents
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
Namaqualand Railway mule train
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.