The following lists events that happened during the 1660s in South Africa.

Events

1660

  • The Dutch East India Company imports the first horses into the Cape from Batavia
  • Jan Danaert leads a horseback expedition from the Cape settlement to the east and reaches what he names the Olifants River
  • Pieter Everaert leads an unsuccessful horseback expedition from the Cape settlement to the north in an attempt to locate the land of the Namaqua

1661

  • Pieter Cruythoff is sent out from the Cape settlement to investigate the suitability of the interior for agriculture

1662

  • 7 May - Jan van Riebeeck leaves the Cape on promotion to a position on the Council of Justice in Batavia
  • 9 May - Zacharias Wagenaer succeeds Van Riebeeck as Commander of the Cape

1663

  • 4 March - the Prince Edward Islands were discovered by Barent Barentszoon Lam of the Dutch East India Company ship Maerseveen, and named them Maerseveen (Marion) and Dina (Prince Edward).
  • Settler outposts are established in the Hottentots Holland and Saldanha Bay areas

1664

  • 26 August - Isbrand Goske arrives at the Cape as Commissioner, and was instructed to select a site for the Castle of Good Hope

1665

  • 18 August - The first Dutch Reformed Church congregation is founded at the Cape and J. van Arkel is appointed the first minister

1666

  • Settlements in Saldanha Bay and Vishoek are established
  • The first Calvinist church built in the Cape
  • Construction begins on a stone fort at the Cape (later known as the Castle of Good Hope), with work done by 300 sailors, soldiers, Khoikhoi, women, and slaves; this replaces the previous wooden fort built by Jan van Riebeeck and his men
  • 24 October - Cornelis van Quaelberg assumes duty as the Commander of the Cape Colony, after Zacharias Wagenaer resigns from his post.
  • Angela van Bengale, an early Cape slave, is freed with her three children.

1667

  • The first Malays arrive as slaves

1668

  • Hieronimus Cruse is ordered to explore the southeast coast to Mossel Bay, and to return overland.
  • 16 June - Cornelis van Quaelberg is succeeded by Jacob Borghorst as Commander, after his dismissal.
  • The crew on the Voerman tasked with exploring the Natal coast.
  • Angela van Bengale, one of the first freed Cape slaves, is baptized as she fully joins Cape burgher society.
  • Adam Tas is born, a future community leader of the Cape Colony.

Deaths

  • 1662 - Doman and Autsumao, leaders of the Khoikhoi and interpreters dies
  • 1668 - Zacharias Wagenaer, Commander of the Cape, dies

References

Bibliography

See Years in South Africa for list of further sources