January
26 – The Cullinan Diamond, the largest diamond in the world at 3,106 carats (621.2 g), is discovered by Captain Frederick Wells at Cullinan.
Unknown date
Non-whites are not given voting rights, except in the Cape Colony.
The Cape Town City Hall in Darling Street is built.
3 February – Herman Charles Bosman, writer and journalist, is born at Kuilsrivier, Cape Town. (d. 1951)
8 April – Helen Joseph, activist, is born in Sussex, England. (d. 1992)
5 July – Jock Cameron, South African cricketer. (d. 1935)
2 September – Harry Hart, South African athlete. (d. 1979)
18 April – Enoch Sontonga, composer of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, dies at age 32.
1 February – Free State – Springfontein to Jagersfontein, 48 miles 13 chains (77.5 kilometres).
1 March – Free State – Aberfeldy to Bethlehem, 44 miles 10 chains (71.0 kilometres).
27 March – Transvaal – Rayton to Cullinan, 6 miles (9.7 kilometres).
1 May – Cape Western – Hutchinson to Pampoenpoort, 48 miles 28 chains (77.8 kilometres).
18 May – Cape Eastern – Xalanga to Elliot, 19 miles 27 chains (31.1 kilometres).
1 August – Transvaal – Klerksdorp to Vierfontein (Free State), 17 miles 15 chains (27.7 kilometres).
19 September – Cape Western – De Aar to Prieska, 112 miles 8 chains (180.4 kilometres).
1 November – Cape Eastern – Komga to Eagle, 27 miles 4 chains (43.5 kilometres).
1 November – Cape Midland – Humewood Road to Humansdorp (Narrow gauge), 68 miles 57 chains (110.6 kilometres).
1 November – Natal – Elandskop to Donnybrook, 42 miles 38 chains (68.4 kilometres).
2 November – Cape Eastern – Aliwal North to Lady Grey, 39 miles 65 chains (64.1 kilometres).
1 December – Cape Western – Cape Town to Sea Point, 3 miles 51 chains (5.9 kilometres).
16 December – Cape Western – Van der Stel to Strand, 2 miles 6 chains (3.3 kilometres).
16 December – Free State – Modderpoort to Ladybrand, 7 miles (11.3 kilometres).
18 December – Free State – Marseilles to Maseru in Basutoland, 16 miles 32 chains (26.4 kilometres).
20 December – Transvaal – Springs to Breyten, 121 miles 78 chains (196.3 kilometres).
22 December – Free State – Dover to Parys, 20 miles 18 chains (32.5 kilometres).
Cape
A single 0-4-2 tank locomotive named Britannia is placed in service by the Cape Copper Company as a shunting engine at Port Nolloth in the Cape Colony.
Natal
The Natal Government Railways places two Class A 4-6-2 Pacific locomotives in service, designed by Locomotive Superintendent D.A. Hendrie for passenger traffic on the mainline between Ladysmith and Charlestown. In 1912 they will be designated Class 2 on the South African Railways (SAR).
Transvaal
The Central South African Railways places two four-cylinder rack tank steam locomotives in service on the section between Waterval Onder and Waterval Boven, but they are underpowered and prove to be failures in rack service.
1905 in South Africa Wikipedia (Text) CC BY-SA
