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The following lists events that happened during 1917 in South Africa.
Incumbents
- Monarch: King George V.
- Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: The Viscount Buxton.
- Prime Minister: Louis Botha.
- Chief Justice: James Rose Innes
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 the loss of 646 lives.
- 20 June – Natal – Gingindlovu to Eshowe, .
- Seven Class K 4-6-4 tank locomotives that had been built for the Philippines but could not be delivered.
