<!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive -->
<!-- IF POSSIBLE, PLEASE USE PRESENT TENSE -->
The following lists events that happened during 1871 in South Africa.
Incumbents
- Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Sir Henry Barkly.
- Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of Natal: Robert William Keate.
- State President of the Orange Free State: Jan Brand.
- State President of the South African Republic:
- Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (until 20 November).
- Daniel Jacobus Erasmus (acting from 21 November).