1865 in South Africa

The following lists events that happened during 1865 in South Africa.

Incumbents

 * Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Sir Philip Wodehouse.
 * Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of Natal:
 * John Maclean (until 25 July).
 * Sir John Thomas (acting from 26 July to 25 August).
 * Sir John Bisset (acting from 26 August).
 * State President of the Orange Free State: Jan Brand.
 * President of the Executive Council of the South African Republic: Marthinus Wessel Pretorius.

Events

 * July
 * 26 – Sir John Thomas becomes acting Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of Natal.


 * August
 * 26 – Sir John Bisset becomes acting Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of Natal.


 * Date unknown
 * Ostriches are domesticated.
 * Economic depression hits South Africa.
 * War breaks out for the second time between the Orange Free State and Basothos.

Births

 * 12 January – Jan F. E. Celliers, poet, writer and dramatist. (d. 1940)
 * 20 August – Bernard Tancred, cricketer. (d. 1911)

Deaths

 * 13 August – Willem Cornelis Janse van Rensburg, second President of the Executive Council of the South African Republic. (b. 1818)
 * Date unknown – Louw Wepener, military leader in the Orange Free State. (b. 1812)

Locomotives

 * The Natal Railway Company obtains a 0-4-0 saddle-tank locomotive from Kitson and Company. The Natal Railway's second locomotive is named Durban.