1920 in South Africa

The following lists events that happened during 1920 in South Africa.

Incumbents

 * Monarch: King George V
 * Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa:
 * The Viscount Buxton (until 19 November).
 * Prince Arthur of Connaught (from 20 November).
 * Prime Minister: Jan Smuts.
 * Chief Justice: James Rose Innes.

Events

 * January
 * 10 – The League of Nations is established as the Treaty of Versailles goes into effect.


 * February
 * 1 – The South African Air Force (SAAF) is established, the second autonomous Air Force in the world after the Royal Air Force (RAF).


 * November
 * 20 – Prince Arthur of Connaught is appointed the 3rd Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.


 * December
 * 17 – South Africa is granted a League of Nations Class C mandate over South West Africa.

Births

 * 12 February – Raymond Mhlaba, anti-apartheid activist and politician. (d. 2005)
 * 20 February – Zoe Gail, singer and actress. (d. 2020)
 * 9 March – Robert Resha, journalist and political dissident. (d. 1974)
 * 20 March – Lionel Bernstein, anti-apartheid activist and political prisoner (d. 2002)
 * 8 April – Vuyisile Mini, anti-apartheid activist and politician. (d. 1964)
 * 12 May – Gerald Stapleton, Battle of Britain fighter pilot. (d. 2010)
 * 11 June – David Millin, movie director, producer, and cinematographer. (d. 1999)
 * 11 July – Edison Ntsanwisi, politician and Chief Minister of Gazankulu. (d. 1993)
 * 30 July – Harry Gwala, anti-apartheid activist and politician. (d. 1995)
 * 8 August – Nimrod Sejake, labour leader and activist. (d. 2004)
 * 11 September – Hymie Barsel, political activist. (d. 1987)
 * 12 September – Michiel Daniel Overbeek, amateur astronomer and prolific variable star observers. (d. 2001)
 * 24 December – Richard Maponya, entrepreneur and property developer. (d. 2020)

Deaths

 * 11 December – Olive Schreiner, author and feminist, in Cape Town. (b. 1855)



Locomotives

 * The South African Railways places thirty Class 12B 4-8-2 Mountain type steam locomotives in mainline service.