1917 in South Africa
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
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1917 in South Africa | |
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Contents
Events
- January
- 16 – The SS Mendi, a troopship, sets sail from Cape Town to Le Havre, France, transporting 823 members of the 802nd South African Native Labour Corps.
- February
- 21 – The SS Mendi is struck on the starboard side by the SS Darro, an 11,000 ton liner, and sinks with 646 people losing their lives.
- September
- The Industrial Workers of Africa (IWA), the first predominantly black trade union in South Africa, is established in Johannesburg.
- Unknown date
- The Castle in Cape Town is handed over to the South African Defence Force.
- Gold mining company Anglo American Corporation is founded by Ernest Oppenheimer.
Births
- 27 October – Oliver Reginald Tambo is born in Bizana.
- 20 December – Petrus Hendrik Hugo, World War II fighter pilot.
Deaths
- 18 January – Andrew Murray, author, educationist and pastor, dies at the age of 88.
Railways
Railway lines opened
- 5 March – Natal – Izingolweni to Harding (Narrow gauge), 39 miles 56 chains (63.9 kilometres).[1]
- 20 June – Natal – Gingindlovu to Eshowe, 20 miles 2 chains (32.2 kilometres).[1]
Locomotives
- Two new Cape gauge locomotive types enter service on the South African Railways (SAR):
