1923 in South Africa explained

The following lists events that happened during 1923 in South Africa.

Incumbents

• Monarch: King George V.
• Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa:
  • Prince Arthur of Connaught (until 5 December).^[1]
  • Sir James Rose Innes (acting, from 5 December).
• Prime Minister: Jan Smuts.
• Chief Justice: Sir James Rose Innes.

Events

March

• 1  - The Electricity Supply Commission (Eskom), largest electricity producer in Africa, is established.

Unknown date

• The South African Native National Congress changes its name to African National Congress.

Births

• 10 April  - John Watkins, cricketer (d. 2021)
• 30 April  - Francis Tucker, rally Driver. (d. 2008)
• 19 May  - Johannes Meintjes, artist and writer. (d. 1980)
• 6 August  - Moira Lister, South African-born English film, stage and television actress. (d. 2007)
• 5 October  - Glynis Johns, South African-born Welsh actress. (d. 2024)
• 11 October  - Moses Mabhida, anti-apartheid activist. (d. 1986)
• 11 November  - Pieter van der Byl, politician (d. 1999)
• 20 November  - Nadine Gordimer, writer and political activist. (d. 2014)
• 17 December  - Wilton Mkwayi, anti-apartheid activist. (d. 2004)

Deaths

• 10 October – Herman Gottfried Breijer, Dutch-born South African naturalist

Railways

Railway lines opened

• 12 April  - Transvaal  - Dunswart to Apex deviation, 4miles.^[2]
• 21 May  - Natal  - Queen's Bridge to Duff's Road deviation, 5miles.^[2]
• 8 July  - Natal  - Canelands, Umdloti to Maidstone deviation, 6miles.^[2]
• 6 August  - Cape  - Kamfersdam to Winter's Rush, 34miles.^[2]
• 9 August  - Cape  - Belmont to Douglas, 53miles.^[2]
• 30 October  - Transvaal  - Settlers to Tuinplaas, 13miles.^[2]

Locomotives

• The New Cape Central Railway places two 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type Garratt articulated steam locomotives in service. They will be designated Class GK on the South African Railways (SAR) in 1925.
• Major Frank Dutton, SAR Signal Engineer and the Motor Transport Superintendent, conducts trials with a prototype petrol-paraffin powered Dutton road-rail tractor.^[3]
• Mr. C. Lawson, Superintendent Mechanical of the SAR, experiments with gas-electric motive power and constructs a single experimental producer gas-electric locomotive. The locomotive remains in service for several years but the gas-electric concept will eventually be superseded by diesel-electric traction.^{[3] [4]}

Notes and References

1. http://www.archontology.org/nations/south_africa/sa_gg/ Archontology.org: A Guide for Study of Historical Offices: South Africa: Governors-General: 1910-1961
2. Statement Showing, in Chronological Order, the Date of Opening and the Mileage of Each Section of Railway, Statement No. 19, p. 188, ref. no. 200954-13
3. Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1945). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, October 1945. pp. 782-783.
4. Heymans, Brig. H.B.; Parsley, Dr. G.M.J. (2000).The SAR Experimental Suction Gas-Electric Locomotive. Paper dated 28 September 2000.