1943 in South Africa

← 1942 1941 1940 1943 in South Africa → 1944 1945 1946
Decades:	1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s
See also:	List of years in South Africa

The following lists events that happened during 1943 in South Africa.

Incumbents

• Monarch: King George VI.
• Governor-General: Sir Patrick Duncan (until 17 July), Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet (acting starting 17 July).
• Prime Minister: Jan Christiaan Smuts.
• Chief Justice: Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet then Ernest Frederick Watermeyer.

Events

• 27 January – Prime Minister of South Africa Jan Smuts asks parliament for approval to send troops into Europe. ^[1]
• 13 May – German Afrika Korps and Italian troops in North Africa surrender to Allied forces.
• 18 July – Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet is appointed Officer Administering the Government, i.e. acting Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.

Unknown date

• Reclamation work begins on the Foreshore in Cape Town.
• 500 Polish orphans arrive in Oudtshoorn from the Soviet Union. ^[2]

Births

• 5 March – Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi, artist
• 30 May – Ken Andrew, politician
• 1 June – Lorrie Wilmot, cricketer (d. 2004)
• 29 October – Ina Cronjé, politician (d. 2023)

Deaths

• 6 July – Alexander Coultate Rabagliati, fighter pilot, is reported missing in action.
• 17 July – Sir Patrick Duncan, 6th Governor-General of the Union of South Africa. (b. 1870)

Railways

Railway lines opened

• 29 January – Transvaal: New Canada to Phomolong, 2 miles 75 chains (4.7 kilometres). ^[3]
• 7 June – Transvaal: Hercules to Koedoespoort, 7 miles 17 chains (11.6 kilometres). ^[3]

Sports

• 1942–43 South African cricket season

References

1. "WWII: SA troops to fight in Europe | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
2. Polish Children's Home Oudtshoorn
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