1886 in South Africa

The following lists events that happened during 1886 in South Africa.

Incumbents

 * Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Hercules Robinson.
 * Governor of the Colony of Natal: Henry Ernest Gascoyne Bulwer.
 * State President of the Orange Free State: Jan Brand.
 * State President of the South African Republic: Paul Kruger.
 * Prime Minister of the Cape of Good Hope: Thomas Upington (until 24 November), John Gordon Sprigg (starting 24 November).

Events

 * September
 * The main gold reef on the Witwatersrand is discovered, giving birth to Ferreira's Camp, later to be named Johannesburg.


 * October
 * 11 – The Standard Bank of South Africa opens the first bank in Ferreira's Camp.

Births

 * 2 January – Billy Zulch, South African cricketer (d. 1924)
 * 13 December – Henry Selby Msimang, political activist, journalist, court interpreter and lay preacher, is born in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg.

Deaths

 * 1 September – Sir John Charles Molteno, first Prime Minister of the Cape Colony.

Railway lines opened

 * 21 June – Natal – Estcourt to Ladysmith, 45 mi.

Locomotives

 * The first of three 0-4-0 well-tank condensing locomotives is placed in service by the Cape Copper Mining Company on its narrow gauge Namaqualand Railway between Port Nolloth and O'okiep in the Cape Colony. They are the first condensing steam locomotives in South Africa.