1856 in South Africa

The following lists events that happened during 1856 in South Africa.

Events

 * Approximately 3000 Crimean War veterans (German Legionnaires) settled in Kaffraria, later joined by 2700 German civilians.
 * February - U.G. Lauts dismissed as consul of the Orange Free State in the Netherlands
 * 15 July - Natal is made a separate British colony, after being part of Cape colony since 1843
 * 13 October - State President Boshoff of the Orange Free State lays the foundation stone of Grey College in Bloemfontein
 * 17 December - The Boer republic of Lydenburg is established
 * The Battle of Ndondakusuka: Mpande's sons Mbuyazwe and Cetshwayo battle for kingship of Zululand. Cetshwayo is successful, and 23,000 Zulu die.

Births

 * 26 March - Christiaan Willem Hendrik van der Post, member of the Orange Free State Volksraad and poet, is born in Leiden, Netherlands