1871 in South Africa
 |
1871 in South Africa |  |
| 1868 1869 1870 « 1871 » 1872 1873 1874 | ||
 |
 | |
|
| ||
Events
- Unknown date
- Gold is discovered in the Pilgrim's Rest area.
- An 83.50 carats (16.700 g) diamond is discovered and leads to a diamond rush. The town of New Rush springs up.
- A mail route is established from Cape Town to the diamond fields.
- Britain annexes the diamond fields of Kimberley and Griqualand West.
- Griqua claims to the diamond fields are recognised and Griqua leader Waterboer seeks British protection.
- Diamond mining stimulates migrant labour, with two-thirds of the black workers coming from Limpopo valley.
Births
- 9 January – Eugène Nielen Marais, lawyer, naturalist, poet and writer, is born in Pretoria.
Railways
Namaqualand Railway mule train
Railway lines opened
- 18 February – Namaqualand – Port Nolloth to Muishondfontein, 44 miles 40 chains (71.6 kilometres).[1]
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.[1]
References
| ||||||||||||||