March18 – The University of the Free State is established.May1 – 18 blacks are killed by police and more than 30 are injured on the Witwatersrand in a massive stay-away from work, called for by the African National Congress.1 – Springbok Radio, the SABC's first commercial service, is launched.August5 – A South African Air Force squadron departs for the Korean War.6 – The municipality of East London decides not to approve prospecting for oil off the city's seafront.September26 – Sasol (Suid-Afrikaanse Steenkool, Olie en Gaskorporasie Bpk.) is registered as a company.October23 – Ernest George Jansen is appointed the 9th Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.November2 – South African Airways inaugurates daily services between Johannesburg and Bulawayo and between Johannesburg and Cape Town.December13 – South Africa refuses to place South-West Africa under UN trusteeship.21 – The gold town of Allanridge in the Free State Province is established.Unknown dateOribi Gorge Nature Reserve is proclaimed a protected state forest.H.F. Verwoerd becomes Minister of Native Affairs and implements the forced removal of about 80,000 black Africans from Sophiatown, Martindale and Newclare to Soweto.The government passes the Immorality Amendment Act, the Group Areas Act, the Suppression of Communism Act, and the Population Registration Act which officially divides South Africans into 'White', 'Coloured', 'Asian' or 'Native' population groups.United States and United Kingdom sign a purchasing agreement with South Africa to supply uranium for their nuclear weapons programmes.2 February – Richard Mzamane Mabaso, artist, is born in Alexandra.9 May – Bhawani Sannyassi Dayal, activist and journalist, dies in Ajmer, India.11 September – Jan Smuts dies at the age of 80 on his family farm of Doornkloof, Irene, near Pretoria.2 October – Transvaal: Vandyksdrif to Broodsnyersplaas, 11 miles 73 chains (19.2 kilometres).31 May – Vic Toweel defeats World Bantamweight Champion Manuel Ortiz on points over 15 rounds at Wembley Stadium and becomes the first South African world boxing champion.The British Empire Games (now the Commonwealth Games), after a 12-year gap, takes place in Auckland from 4 to 11 February. Of the 12 participating countries which include Southern Rhodesia, South African finishes 5th on the medals list, winning 20 medals, 8 Gold, 4 Silver and 8 Bronze. The medal winners are:
AthleticsNeville Price – Gold, long jump, distance 7.31 mSyd Luyt – Silver, marathon, time 2.37.03Tom Lavery – Bronze, 120 yards hurdles, time 14.6 sDaphne Robb ; Bronze, 220 yards, time 24.7 sBoxingJohnny van Rensburg – Gold, bantamweightTheunis van Schalkwyk – Gold, middleweightMarcus Temple – Bronze, flyweightLawn bowlsAlfred Blumberg, H.Currer, Harry Atkinson and Norman Walker – Gold, foursW. Gibb and H.J. van Zyl – Silver, pairsRowingIan Stephen – Bronze, single scullsSwimmingGraham Johnston – Silver, 440 yards freestyleGraham Johnston – Gold, 1650 yards freestyleJackie Wild – Gold, 110 yards backstrokeJoan Harrison – Bronze, 110 yards freestyleJoan Harrison – Gold, 440 yards freestyleWeightliftingBarrie Engelbrecht – Bronze, featherweightIssy Bloomberg – Silver, light-heavyweightWrestlingPatrick Morton – Gold, light-heavyweightMartin Jooste – Bronze, welterweightCarel Reitz – Bronze, middleweightWally Hayward, at age 42 and after a twenty-year gap, wins the Comrades Marathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in a time of 6h 46m 25s. Twenty runners of the 29 who start finish in the allotted time.June–JulyThe Australia national association football team tours South Africa and plays four games against the South Africa national football team.
24 June – South Africa wins 3-2 at Kingsmead, Durban.1 July – South Africa wins 2-1 at Ellis Park, Johannesburg.8 July – Australia wins 2-1 at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth.23 July – Australia wins 2-0 at Hartley Vale, Cape Town. 