1925 in South Africa explained

The following lists events that happened during 1925 in South Africa.

Incumbents

• Monarch: King George V.
• Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: The Earl of Athlone.^[1]
• Prime Minister: J.B.M. Hertzog.
• Chief Justice: James Rose Innes.

Events

May

• 1  - The Prince of Wales arrives in Cape Town on a visit to South Africa.

July

• 23  - D.F. Malan, Minister of the Interior, introduces the Areas Reservation and Immigration and Registration Bill, also known as the Asiatic Bill.^[2]

Augustus

• 1  - The New Cape Central Railway and its 204miles long line between Worcester and Voorbaai is incorporated into the South African Railways (SAR).^[3]

Unknown date

• Afrikaans officially replaces Dutch as the second official language after English.
• The manor house of Groot Constantia is gutted by a fire.
• The University of Pretoria begins the tradition of Jool in South Africa.^[4]
• South Africa returns to the gold standard.

Births

• 14 April  - Colin Eglin, founding member and leader of the Progressive Federal Party. (d. 2013)^[5]
• 4 May  - Ruth First, journalist, academic and activist. (d. 1982)
• 6 June  - Andrew Mlangeni, anti-apartheid activist. (d. 2020)
• 19 June  - Alfred Nzo, anti-apartheid activist. (d. 2000)
• 28 September  - Cromwell Everson, composer. (d. 1991)
• 5 October  - Herbert Kretzmer, journalist and lyricist (d. 2020)
• 14 October  - Phillip Tobias, palaeoanthropologist. (d. 2012)

Deaths

• 30 August  - Cathcart William Methven, civil engineer and painter. (b. 1849)

Railways

Railway lines opened

• 21 January  - Transvaal  - Rustenburg to Boshoek, 15miles.^[3]
• 26 May  - Transvaal  - Magaliesburg to Schoemansville, 33miles.^[3]
• 26 June  - Natal  - Eshowe to Extension, 741NaN1.^[3]
• 1 September  - Transvaal  - Ermelo to Lothair, 30miles.^[3]
• 25 September  - Transvaal  - Elandshoek to Solarvale (Narrow gauge), 9miles.^[3]
• 1 October  - Transvaal  - Nylstroom to Vaalwater, 45miles.^[3]
• 14 October  - Free State  - Senekal to Marquard, 29miles.^[3]
• 19 October  - Cape  - Kareevlakte to Ladismith, 46miles.^[3]
• 26 November  - Free State  - Frankfort to Villiers, 19miles.^[3]
• 1 December  - Cape  - Fort Beaufort to Katberg (Narrow gauge), 24miles.^[3]

Locomotives

Seven new Cape gauge locomotive types, six steam and one electric, enter service on the SAR. The electric locomotive is the first non-steam mainline locomotive type to enter service in South Africa in quantity.

• A single experimental Class FC Modified Fairlie articulated steam locomotive.^[6]
• The first four Class GD branchline 2-6-2+2-6-2 Garratt articulated locomotives.
• The first six of eighteen Class GE 2-8-2+2-8-2 Garratt locomotives.
• A single Class GG 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type Garratt on fast mainline passenger service.
• Two American-built Class 15C 4-8-2 Mountain type steam locomotives.
• The first two of seven Class 16D Pacific type passenger locomotives.
• The first of altogether 172 Class 1E electric locomotives, spread over seven orders, the first mainline electric locomotive to be introduced in South Africa.^{[7] [8]}

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. Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds)(1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU, v. 6, p. 68.
3. Statement Showing, in Chronological Order, the Date of Opening and the Mileage of Each Section of Railway, Statement No. 19, p. 189, ref. no. 200954-13
4. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-174603121.html Retrieved 1 April 2010
5. News: Stanley Uys . Colin Eglin obituary . The Guardian. 9 December 2013 . 9 December 2013.
6. 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, December 1945. pp. 967-968.
7. South African Railways Index and Diagrams Electric and Diesel Locomotives, 610 mm and 1065 mm Gauges, Ref LXD 14/1/100/20, 28 January 1975, as amended
8. Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1946). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, March 1946. pp. 205-208.