 | ||
The following lists events that happened during 1920 in South Africa.
Contents
Incumbents
Monarch: King George V
Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa:
The Viscount Buxton (until 19 November).
Prince Arthur of Connaught (from 20 November).
Prime Minister: Jan Smuts.
Chief Justice: James Rose Innes.
Events
January
10 – The League of Nations is established as the Treaty of Versailles goes into effect.
February
1 – The South African Air Force (SAAF) is established, the second autonomous Air Force in the world after the Royal Air Force (RAF).
November
20 – Prince Arthur of Connaught is appointed the 3rd Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.
December
17 – South Africa is granted a League of Nations Class C mandate over South West Africa.
Births
12 February – Raymond Mhlaba, anti-apartheid activist and politician. (d. 2005)
20 February – Zoe Gail, singer and actress. (d. 2020)
9 March – Robert Resha, journalist and political dissident. (d. 1974)
20 March – Lionel Bernstein, anti-apartheid activist and political prisoner (d. 2002)
8 April – Vuyisile Mini, anti-apartheid activist and politician. (d. 1964)
12 May – Gerald Stapleton, Battle of Britain fighter pilot. (d. 2010)
11 June – David Millin, movie director, producer, and cinematographer. (d. 1999)
11 July – Edison Ntsanwisi, politician and Chief Minister of Gazankulu. (d. 1993)
30 July – Harry Gwala, anti-apartheid activist and politician. (d. 1995)
8 August – Nimrod Sejake, labour leader and activist. (d. 2004)
11 September – Hymie Barsel, political activist. (d. 1987)
12 September – Michiel Daniel Overbeek, amateur astronomer and prolific variable star observers. (d. 2001)
24 December – Richard Maponya, entrepreneur and property developer. (d. 2020)
Deaths
11 December – Olive Schreiner, author and feminist, in Cape Town. (b. 1855)
Railways
Locomotives
The South African Railways places thirty Class 12B 4-8-2 Mountain type steam locomotives in mainline service.