1954 in South Africa

The following lists events that happened during 1954 in South Africa.

Incumbents

• Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II.
• Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Ernest George Jansen.
• Prime Minister: Daniel François Malan (until 30 November), Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom (starting 30 November).
• Chief Justice: Albert van der Sandt Centlivres.

Events

January

• Mimi Coertse starts tutorship under Maria Hittorff and Josef Witt.

April

• 17 – The Federation of South African Women is launched in Johannesburg.
• 23 – The Afrikaans-German Culture Union (Afrikaanse-Deutsche Kultuurgemeinschaft - ADK) is founded in Pretoria.

June

• 23 – The Trust Bank of South Africa is founded by Jan S. Marais.

September

• 14 – Sasolburg is established near the Sasol plant in the northern Orange Free State.

October

• 10 – The much-travelled statue of Paul Kruger is unveiled in Church Square, Pretoria by Dr. D.F. Malan.
• 11 – Daniel François Malan announces his retirement.

November

• 30 – Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom becomes the 6th Prime Minister of South Africa.

December

• 16–19 – The 43rd Annual Conference of the African National Congress is held in Durban.

Unknown date

• George Bizos is admitted as a lawyer to the South African Bar.

Births

• 13 January – Trevor Rabin, South African–American musician, founder member of Rabbitt.
• 2 May – Bulelani Ngcuka, first national director of the National Prosecuting Authority.
• 10 May – Lindiwe Sisulu, member of Parliament of South Africa, national minister.
• 10 June – Nelson Dladla, Teenage Dladla, soccer player.
• 23 August – Ngconde Balfour, politician.
• 23 September – Mavis Davies, Local Politician and longest serving Councilor in the history of Mtubatuba Local Municipality
• 12 October – Duma Ndlovu, filmmaker, poet, playwright. Well known for creating Muvhango & Uzalo TV shows.
• 5 November – Koos Kombuis, poet, singer, entertainer and writer.
• 26 November – John Matshikiza, actor, theatre director, poet and journalist. (d. 2008)
• 21 December – Gysie Pienaar, rugby player & father of rugby player Ruan Pienaar

Deaths

Railways

Locomotives

Two new Cape gauge steam locomotive types enter service on the South African Railways (SAR).

• The first of 120 Class GMA branch line and Class GMAM mainline 4-8-2+2-8-4 "Double Mountain" Garratt articulated locomotives.
• Twenty-five Class GO 4-8-2+2-8-4 "Double Mountain" light branch line Garratt locomotives.

Sports

Football

• 1 May – The South Africa national football team beats the Israel national football team 2–1 at the Rand Stadium, Johannesburg in a friendly match.

References