1886 in South Africa

The following lists events that happened during 1886 in South Africa.

← 1885 1884 1883 1886 in South Africa → 1887 1888 1889
Decades:	1860s 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s
See also:	List of years in South Africa

Incumbents

• Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Hercules Robinson.
• Governor of the Colony of Natal: Henry Ernest Gascoyne Bulwer.
• State President of the Orange Free State: Jan Brand.
• State President of the South African Republic: Paul Kruger.
• Prime Minister of the Cape of Good Hope: Thomas Upington (until 24 November), John Gordon Sprigg (starting 24 November).

Events

September

• The main gold reef on the Witwatersrand is discovered, giving birth to Ferreira's Camp, later to be named Johannesburg.

October

• 11 – The Standard Bank of South Africa opens the first bank in Ferreira's Camp.

Births

• 2 January – Billy Zulch, South African cricketer (d. 1924)
• 13 December – Henry Selby Msimang, political activist, journalist, court interpreter and lay preacher, is born in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg.

Deaths

• 1 September – Sir John Charles Molteno, first Prime Minister of the Cape Colony.

Railways

Railway lines opened

Namaqualand 0-4-0WT Condenser

• 21 June – Natal – Estcourt to Ladysmith, 45 miles 21 chains (72.8 kilometres).

Locomotives

• The first of three 0-4-0 well-tank condensing locomotives is placed in service by the Cape Copper Mining Company on its 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge Namaqualand Railway between Port Nolloth and O'okiep in the Cape Colony. They are the first condensing steam locomotives in South Africa.