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The following lists events that happened during 1947 in South Africa.
Incumbents
- Monarch: King George VI.
- Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Gideon Brand van Zyl.
- Prime Minister: Jan Christiaan Smuts.
- Chief Justice: Ernest Frederick Watermeyer.
Events
;February
- 17 – King George VI in his capacity as King-Emperor of South Africa within the British Commonwealth visits the country with his family, for a royal tour, the first British monarch to do so in South African history..
;March
- 9 – The Three Doctors' Pact (also known as the Dadoo-Naicker-Xuma Pact) is signed by Dr A.B. Xuma (African National Congress), Dr Monty Naicker (Natal Indian Congress) and Dr Yusuf Dadoo (Transvaal Indian Congress).
;April
- 18 – Mrs. Ples is discovered near Sterkfontein.
;May
- 4 – The Natal Indian Organisation is formed.
;December
- 29 – Marion Island is annexed by South Africa.
Births
- 23 March – Ray Phiri, musician (d. 2017)
- 14 May – Hans Strydom, actor and writer
- 2 June – King Ingwenyama Mayitjha III of the Ndzundza-Mabhoko Southern Ndebele people. (d. 2005)
- 2 July – George Weideman, poet and writer. (d. 2008)
- 16 July – Roelf Meyer, politician.
- 5 August – Angus Buchan, televangelist, pastor & farmer.
- 30 August – Tshenuwani Farisani, politician and Lutheran minister (d. 2025)
- 15 September – Sandra Prinsloo, actress
- 28 October – Busi Mhlongo, musician. (d. 2010)
Deaths
Railways
thumb|[[South African Class S1 0-8-0|Class S1]]
thumb|[[South African Class 3E|Class 3E]]
Locomotives
Two new Cape gauge locomotive types enter service on the South African Railways (SAR):
- Twelve Class S1 0-8-0 shunting steam locomotives, designed and built in the Salt River workshops in Cape Town.
- The first of twenty-eight Class 3E electric locomotives.