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The following lists events that happened during 1931 in South Africa.
Incumbents
- Monarch: King George V.
- Governor-General:
- Jacob de Villiers (until 26 January).
- The Earl of Clarendon (starting 26 January)
- Prime Minister: James Barry Munnik Hertzog.
- Chief Justice: Jacob de Villiers.
Events
;January
- 26 – George Villiers, 6th Earl of Clarendon, is appointed the 5th Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.
;December
- 11 – The Statute of Westminster establishes a status of legislative equality between the self-governing dominions of the Commonwealth of Australia, Canada, Irish Free State, Dominion of Newfoundland, Dominion of New Zealand and Union of South Africa.
Births
- 21 January – Joseph Engenas Matlhakanye Lekganyane, founder of the St Engenas Zion Christian Church.
- 26 February – Isaac Lesiba Maphotho, anti-apartheid activist. (d. 2019)
- 10 March – Raymond Ackerman, businessman, founder of Pick 'n Pay supermarket group.
- 19 April – Kobie Coetsee, politician, in Ladybrand. (d. 2000)
- 5 July – Ismail Mahomed, South African and Namibian Chief Justice. (d. 2000)
- 15 July – Gene Louw, politician.
- 27 September – Thandi Klaasen, jazz musician (d. 2017).
- 4 October – Basil D'Oliveira, cricketer (d. 2011)
- 7 October – Desmond Tutu, social rights activist and Anglican bishop, in Klerksdorp (d. 2021).
- 24 November – Arthur Chaskalson, President of the Constitutional Court of South Africa & Chief Justice of South Africa.
- 12 December – Jafta Masemola, anti-apartheid activist. (d. 1994)
- 31 December – Dorothy Nyembe, activist and politician (d. 1998).
Deaths
- 9 January – Second Boer War General Johannes Gerhardus Celliers at age 70.
- 24 January – Sir Percy FitzPatrick, author, politician and mining financier. (b. 1862)
- 24 October – Sir Murray Bisset, South African cricketer and Governor of Southern Rhodesia (b. 1876)
Railways
thumb|[[South African Class NG G14 2-6-2+2-6-2|Class NG G14 Garratt]]
thumb|[[South African Class NG15 2-8-2|Class NG15 Kalahari]]
Railway lines opened
- 3 June – Cape – Molteno to Jamestown, .
- 1 July – Natal – Chailey to Mount Alida, .
- Three 2-8-2 Mikado locomotives for the Otavi Mining and Railway Company in South West Africa. In 1960 they would become the Class NG15 Apple Express Kalaharis on the narrow gauge Avontuur Railway.