1710s in South Africa

The following lists events that happened during the 1710s in South Africa.

Events

Governor of the Cape Colony - Louis van Assenberg
16 March - A smallpox epidemic broke out at the Cape Colony. A smallpox outbreak kills 25% of the White Cape population and devastates the Cape Khoikhoi. The Khoikhoi, due to a lack of immunity, have their population nearly wiped. 90% of the Khoikhoi population ends up being killed in the smallpox epidemic.
Cape slaves flee but are captured and punished. Thomas van Bengalen is hanged, and the leader Tromp van Madagascar is sentenced to impalement but commits suicide. Other Cape captives have their Achilles tendons severed or feet broken on the wheel.
A Cape labour shortage follows, land becomes "ownerless" and is taken by colonial cattle farmers.

The Trek Boers raid Khoikhoi cattle near Saldanha Bay.
A list of all the free men at the Dutch Cape Colony is compiled for 1715. It is divided into three districts; the Cape of Good Hope, Stellenbosch and the Drakenstein.
A new lease renewal condition is introduced. Leases had to be renewed one month after expiration, with penalties for each emission.
Khoisan in Land van Waveren attack the European farmers, stealing 200 cattle and several thousand sheep.
The Constantia estate is sold after the Dutch government orders the confiscation of the Van der Stel lands.
Abraham de Villiers acquires the Boschendal farm estate.
The Lady of Good Hope is introduced to the coat of arms of the Cape Colony.
The Isle de France in the Indian Ocean becomes a French colony.

27 December 1711 - Louis van Assenburgh, Governor of the Cape, dies
24 June 1712 - Simon van der Stel, Governor of the Cape, died at his estate in Constantia, Cape Colony

See Years in South Africa for list of references.