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The following lists events that happened during 1954 in South Africa.
Incumbents
- Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II.
- Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Ernest George Jansen.
- Prime Minister: Daniel François Malan (until 30 November), Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom (starting 30 November).
- Chief Justice: Albert van der Sandt Centlivres.
Events
;January
- Mimi Coertse starts tutorship under Maria Hittorff and Josef Witt.
;April
- 17 – The Federation of South African Women is launched in Johannesburg.
- 23 – The Afrikaans-German Culture Union (Afrikaanse-Deutsche Kultuurgemeinschaft - ADK) is founded in Pretoria.
;June
- 23 – The Trust Bank of South Africa is founded by Jan S. Marais.
;September
- 14 – Sasolburg is established near the Sasol plant in the northern Orange Free State.
;October
- 10 – The much-travelled statue of Paul Kruger is unveiled in Church Square, Pretoria by Dr. D.F. Malan.
- 11 – Daniel François Malan announces his retirement.
;November
- 30 – Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom becomes the 6th Prime Minister of South Africa.
;December
- 16–19 – The 43rd Annual Conference of the African National Congress is held in Durban.
;Unknown date
- George Bizos is admitted as a lawyer to the South African Bar.
Births
- 13 January – Trevor Rabin, South African–American musician, founder member of Rabbitt.
- 2 May – Bulelani Ngcuka, first national director of the National Prosecuting Authority.
- 10 May – Lindiwe Sisulu, member of Parliament of South Africa, national minister.
- 10 June – Nelson Dladla, Teenage Dladla, soccer player.
- 23 August – Ngconde Balfour, politician.
- 23 September – Mavis Davies, Local Politician and longest serving Councilor in the history of Mtubatuba Local Municipality
- 12 October – Duma Ndlovu, filmmaker, poet, playwright. Well known for creating Muvhango & Uzalo TV shows.
- 5 November – Koos Kombuis, poet, singer, entertainer and writer.
- 26 November – John Matshikiza, actor, theatre director, poet and journalist. (d. 2008)
- 21 December – Gysie Pienaar, rugby player & father of rugby player Ruan Pienaar
Deaths
Railways
thumb|[[South African Class GMA 4-8-2+2-8-4|Class GMA]]
Locomotives
Two new Cape gauge steam locomotive types enter service on the South African Railways (SAR).
- The first of 120 Class GMA branch line and Class GMAM mainline 4-8-2+2-8-4 "Double Mountain" Garratt articulated locomotives.
- Twenty-five Class GO 4-8-2+2-8-4 "Double Mountain" light branch line Garratt locomotives.
