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The following lists events that happened during 1920 in South Africa.
Incumbents
- Monarch: King George V
- Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa:
- The Viscount Buxton (until 19 November).
- Prince Arthur of Connaught (from 20 November).
;November
- 20 – Prince Arthur of Connaught is appointed the 3rd Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.
;December
- 17 – South Africa is granted a League of Nations Class C mandate over South West Africa.
Births
- 12 February – Raymond Mhlaba, anti-apartheid activist and politician. (d. 2005)
- 20 February – Zoe Gail, singer and actress. (d. 2020)
- 9 March – Robert Resha, journalist and political dissident. (d. 1974)
- 20 March – Lionel Bernstein, anti-apartheid activist and political prisoner (d. 2002)
- 8 April – Vuyisile Mini, anti-apartheid activist and politician. (d. 1964)
- 12 May – Gerald Stapleton, Battle of Britain fighter pilot. (d. 2010)
- 11 June – David Millin, movie director, producer, and cinematographer. (d. 1999)
- 11 July – Edison Ntsanwisi, politician and Chief Minister of Gazankulu. (d. 1993)
- 30 July – Harry Gwala, anti-apartheid activist and politician. (d. 1995)
- 8 August – Nimrod Sejake, labour leader and activist. (d. 2004)
- 11 September – Hymie Barsel, political activist. (d. 1987)
- 12 September – Michiel Daniel Overbeek, amateur astronomer and prolific variable star observers. (d. 2001)
- 24 December – Richard Maponya, entrepreneur and property developer. (d. 2020)
Deaths
- 11 December – Olive Schreiner, author and feminist, in Cape Town. (b. 1855)
thumb|[[South African Class 12B 4-8-2|Class 12B]]
Railways
Locomotives
- The South African Railways places thirty Class 12B 4-8-2 Mountain type steam locomotives in mainline service.