1905 in South Africa

The following lists events that happened during 1905 in South Africa.

Incumbents

 * Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa:Walter Hely-Hutchinson.
 * Governor of the Colony of Natal: Henry Edward McCallum.
 * Prime Minister of the Cape of Good Hope: Leander Starr Jameson.
 * Prime Minister of the Orange River Colony: Alfred Milner (until 7 June), William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne (starting 7 June).
 * Prime Minister of the Colony of Natal: George Morris Sutton (until 16 May), Charles John Smythe (starting 16 May).

Events

 * January
 * 26 – The Cullinan Diamond, the largest diamond in the world at 3106 carat, is discovered by Captain Frederick Wells at Cullinan.


 * Unknown date
 * Non-whites are not given voting rights, except in the Cape Colony.
 * The Cape Town City Hall in Darling Street is built.

Births

 * 3 February – Herman Charles Bosman, writer and journalist, is born at Kuilsrivier, Cape Town. (d. 1951)
 * 8 April – Helen Joseph, activist, is born in Sussex, England. (d. 1992)
 * 5 July – Jock Cameron, cricketer. (d. 1935)
 * 9 August – Moses Kotane, anti-apartheid activist. (d. 1978)
 * 2 September – Harry Hart, athlete. (d. 1979)
 * 4 September – Eileen Mary Challans, writer is born in Essex, England. (d. 1983)

Deaths

 * 18 April – Enoch Sontonga, composer of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, dies at age 32.

Railway lines opened

 * 1 February – Free State – Springfontein to Jagersfontein, 48 mi.
 * 1 March – Free State – Aberfeldy to Bethlehem, 44 mi.
 * 27 March – Transvaal – Rayton to Cullinan, 6 mi.
 * 1 May – Cape Western – Hutchinson to Pampoenpoort, 48 mi.
 * 18 May – Cape Eastern – Xalanga to Elliot, 19 mi.
 * 1 August – Transvaal – Klerksdorp to Vierfontein (Free State), 17 mi.
 * 19 September – Cape Western – De Aar to Prieska, 112 mi.
 * 1 November – Cape Eastern – Komga to Eagle, 27 mi.
 * 1 November – Cape Midland – Humewood Road to Humansdorp (Narrow gauge), 68 mi.
 * 1 November – Natal – Elandskop to Donnybrook, 42 mi.
 * 2 November – Cape Eastern – Aliwal North to Lady Grey, 39 mi.
 * 1 December – Cape Western – Cape Town to Sea Point, 3 mi.
 * 16 December – Cape Western – Van der Stel to Strand, 2 mi.
 * 16 December – Free State – Modderpoort to Ladybrand, 7 mi.
 * 18 December – Free State – Marseilles to Maseru in Basutoland, 16 mi.
 * 20 December – Transvaal – Springs to Breyten, 121 mi.
 * 22 December – Free State – Dover to Parys, 20 mi.

Locomotives

 * Cape
 * A single 0-4-2 tank locomotive named Britannia is placed in service by the Cape Copper Company as a shunting engine at Port Nolloth in the Cape Colony.


 * Natal
 * The Natal Government Railways places two Class A 4-6-2 Pacific locomotives in service, designed by Locomotive Superintendent D.A. Hendrie for passenger traffic on the mainline between Ladysmith and Charlestown. In 1912 they will be designated Class 2 on the South African Railways (SAR).


 * Transvaal
 * The Central South African Railways places two four-cylinder rack tank steam locomotives in service on the section between Waterval Onder and Waterval Boven, but they are underpowered and prove to be failures in rack service.