title: 1871 in South Africa
text: # 1871 in South Africa
  
  The following lists events that happened during 1871 in South Africa.
  
  ## Incumbents
  
  * Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Sir Henry Barkly.
  * Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of Natal: Robert William Keate.
  * State President of the Orange Free State: Jan Brand.
  * State President of the South African Republic:
     * Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (until 20 November).
     * Daniel Jacobus Erasmus (acting from 21 November).
  
  ## Events
  
  ### October
  
  * 27 – British forces march into the Klipdrift Republic and annex the territory as Griqualand West Colony.
  
  ### November
  
  * 21 – Daniel Jacobus Erasmus becomes acting State President of the South African Republic.
  
  ### Unknown date
  
  * Gold is discovered at Pilgrim's Creek in the Pilgrim's Rest area.
  * When an 83.50 carats (16.700 g) diamond is discovered, a diamond rush results and the town of New Rush springs up.
  
  ## Births
  
  * 9 January – Eugène Marais, lawyer, naturalist, poet and writer. (d. 1936)
  * 7 April – Charlotte Maxeke, religious leader, social worker and political activist. (d. 1939)
  
  ## Deaths
  
  * 4 October – Sarel Cilliers, Voortrekker leader and preacher. (b. 1801)
  
  ## Railways
  
  ### Railway lines opened
  
  * 18 February – Namaqualand – Port Nolloth to Muishondfontein, 44 miles 40 chains (71.6 kilometres).
  
  ### Locomotives
  
  * Two 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge 0-6-0 tank locomotives are placed in service by the Cape of Good Hope Copper Mining Company, the first steam locomotives to enter service on the hitherto mule-powered Namaqualand Railway between Port Nolloth and the Namaqualand copper mines around O'okiep in the Cape Colony.
  