1916 in South Africa

The following lists events that happened during 1916 in South Africa.

Incumbents

• Monarch: King George V.
• Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: The Viscount Buxton.
• Prime Minister: Louis Botha.
• Chief Justice: James Rose Innes

Events

February

• 12 – In the Battle of Salaita Hill, South African and other British Empire troops fail to take a German East African defensive position.

July

• 14-16 – During the Battle of Delville Wood, 766 men from the South African Brigade are killed in South Africa's biggest loss in the First World War.

September

• 4 – Dar es Salaam surrenders to British Empire forces.

Births

• 12 January – P.W. Botha, politician, Prime Minister and State President. (d. 2006)
• 15 January – Rachel Alida de Toit, actor who performed under the name Lydia Lindeque. (d. 1997)
• 28 March – Abraham Manie Adelstein, South African-born Chief Medical Statistician of the United Kingdom. (d. 1992)
• 1 July – Thomas Hamilton-Brown, boxer. (d. 1981)

Deaths

• 5 June – The Earl Kitchener, British military commander during the Second Boer War. (b. 1850)
• 28 November – Martinus Theunis Steyn, last State President of the Orange Free State. (b. 1857)

Railways

Railway lines opened

• 18 February – Transvaal – Morgenzon to Amersfoort, .
• 25 May – Natal – Boughton to Cedara deviation, .
• 5 June – Transvaal – Volksrust to Amersfoort, .
• 30 June – Free State – Aliwal North (Cape) to Zastron, .
• 31 July – Free State – Vierfontein to Bothaville, .
• 18 September – Cape – Idutywa to Umtata, .
• 2 October – Cape – Williston to Kootjieskolk, .
• 18 October – Transvaal – Delareyville to Pudimoe (Cape), .

• November – Cape – Ascot to Tygerberg, .
• 24 November – Natal – Donnybrook to Underberg, .

Locomotives

• The South African Railways places six 4-6-2 Pacific type steam locomotives in service on the Langkloof narrow gauge line.

References