1946 in South Africa explained

The following lists events that happened during 1946 in South Africa.

Incumbents

• Monarch: King George VI.
• Governor-General: Gideon Brand van Zyl (starting 1 January).
• Prime Minister: Jan Christiaan Smuts.
• Chief Justice: Ernest Frederick Watermeyer.

Events

January

• 1  - Gideon Brand van Zyl is appointed the 7th Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.

March

• 12  - The South African Indian Congress delegation is received by the Viceroy, Lord Wavell, in Delhi, India, and submits a petition drafted in consultation with Mohandas Gandhi.
• 12  - The Indian Representative Act is repealed.
• 12  - India terminates the trade agreement with South Africa.
• 15  - The Asiatic Land Tenure Act, the "Ghetto Act", is amended to state that Indians may only live where Indians had resided in non-proclaimed areas.
• 31  - 6,000 Indians march in Durban in protest to the Asiatic Land Tenure Act.

April

• 16  - The Eureka Diamond, the first diamond discovered in South Africa, is sold in London for £5,700.

June

• 11  - India recalls its High Commissioner from South Africa.
• 22  - During a prayer meeting in New Delhi, India, Mahatma Gandhi calls for South Africa to stop hooliganism by whites.
• 23  - A group of white men attack and assault a group of Indian Passive Resisters.^[1]

July

• 8  - Indian protests against government legislation lead to the arrest of hundreds of Indians.

Births

• 8 January  - Whitey Basson, businessman and billionaire, former CEO of Shoprite
• 18 January  - Jakes Gerwel, academic and politician. (d. 2012)
• 19 July  - Lucas Malan, Afrikaans poet, author and academic
• 15 September  - Mike Procter, cricketer (d. 2024)
• 5 December  - Sarel van der Merwe, former rally and racing driver
• 18 December  - Steve Biko, anti-apartheid activist. (d. 1977)

Deaths

• 24 January  - Morris Alexander, politician (b. 1877)^[2]
• 13 April  - William Henry Bell, musician, composer and first director of the South African College of Music. (b. 1873)

Railways

Railway lines opened

• 1 June  - Transvaal: Ogies to Vandyksdrif, 21miles.^[3]

Locomotives

• The South African Railways places the first of fifty Class GEA Garratt locomotives in service.

Notes and References

1. http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/indian-passive-resistance-south-africa-1946-1948 Indian passive resistance in South Africa: 1946 – 1948
2. Encyclopedia: Abrahams . Israel . Israel Abrahams . De Kock . W. J. . Dictionary of South African Biography . Alexander, Morris . en . 1st . 1968 . 1 . 85921202 . 10.
3. Statement Showing, in Chronological Order, the Date of Opening and the Mileage of Each Section of Railway, Statement No. 19, p. 191, ref. no. 200954-13