Тhe follоwing lists evеnts that hapрened during 1938 in South Africа.
Contents
Incumbents
Monarch: King George VI.
Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Sir Patrick Duncan
Prime Minister: James Barry Munnik Hertzog.
Chief Justice: John Stephen Curlewis then James Stratford.
Events
July
1 – The South African Press Association is established with offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Bloemfontein and Pretoria.
December
16 – The cornerstone of the Voortrekker Monument is laid.
23 – A coelacanth, a fish thought to have gone extinct prehistorically, is caught off the east coast near Chalumna River mouth.
Unknown date
A contract is awarded to the Hollandse Anneming Maatschappij Eiendoms Beperk to construct a new Table Bay harbour in Cape Town by reclaiming ground on the Foreshore and building new and deeper docks.
South African Jewish Maritime League is established.
Births
17 January – Percy Qoboza, journalist, author and critic of the Nationalist government, in Sophiatown. (d. 1988)
5 June – David Nthubu Koloane, artist, in Alexandra.
4 July
Cyril Mitchley, South African cricketer, umpire and match referee.
Ernie Pieterse, South African racing driver.
13 August – Lindiwe Mabuza, South African politician and diplomat (d. 2021)
12 November – Steve Tshwete, activist and politician, in Springs. (d. 2002)
18 November – Zanele Dlamini Mbeki, former First Lady of South Africa as the wife of former President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki, founder of Women's Development Bank
Railways
Railway lines opened
6 November – Transvaal – Midway to Bank, 21 miles 2 chains (33.8 kilometres).
Locomotives
Three new locomotive types enter service on the South African Railways (SAR):
The first of the Class 15F 4-8-2 Mountain type, at 255 the most numerous steam locomotive class on the South African Railways (SAR).
One hundred and thirty-six Class 23 locomotives enter service, the last and the largest 4-8-2 Mountain type locomotive to be designed by the SAR.
The first of sixteen Class GM 4-8-2+2-8-4 Double Mountain type Garratt articulated steam locomotives.