1879 in South Africa

none November 2025 August 2020 December 2013 1879 The following lists events that happened during 1879 in South Africa. Incumbents Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Henry Barkly. Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of Natal: Henry Ernest Gascoyne Bulwer. State President of the Orange Free State: Jan Brand. State President of the South African Republic: vacant. Lieutenant-Governor of Griqualand West: William Owen Lanyon (until March), James Rose Innes (starting March). Prime Minister of the Cape of Good Hope: John Charles Molteno (until February), John Gordon Sprigg (starting February). Events January 11 – Britain declares war against the Zulus and launches the Anglo-Zulu War after an ultimatum issued on 11 December 1878 is rejected. 22 – The Zulus wipe out British forces in the Battle of Isandlwana. 22-23 – The British prevail against a Zulu attack in the Battle of Rorke's Drift. March 7 – The first British troops arrive in Durban from all over the Empire. 12 – A force of 2,000 Zulus attacks a British camp at Ntombi River. Of the 60 men in the camp, only 15 escape. July 4 – The Zulus are defeated at Ulundi and the war ends. August 28 – The Zulu King Cetshwayo is captured. Deaths 4 May – William Froude, engineer, hydrodynamicist and naval architect, dies in Simon's Town 1 June – Napoléon Eugène, Prince Imperial is killed in action when ambushed by Zulus during the Anglo-Zulu War. Railways Railway lines opened thumb|CGR 1st Class 4-4-0 thumb|CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 thumb|Table Bay Harbour 0-4-0WT thumb|NGR Kitson 2-6-0T March – Natal – Pinetown to Botha's Hill, 14 mi 6 ch km 1 off.Statement Showing, in Chronological Order, the Date of Opening and the Mileage of Each Section of Railway, Statement No. 19, p. 181, ref. no. 200954-13 11 August – Cape Western – Grootfontein to Fraserburg Road, 52 mi 41 ch km 1 off.Report for year ending 31 December 1909, Cape Government Railways, Section VIII - Dates of Opening and the Length of the different Sections in the Cape Colony, from the Year 1873 to 31st December, 1909. 26 August – Cape Midland – Mount Stewart to Graaff-Reinet, 72 mi 18 ch km 1 off. 1 September – Natal – Avoca to Verulam, 12 mi 2 ch km 1 off. 3 September – Cape Midland – Alicedale to Grahamstown, 34 mi 71 ch km 1 off. 17 September – Cape Midland – Alicedale to Middleton, 38 mi 3 ch km 1 off. 3 November – Cape Eastern – Döhne to Cathcart, 42 mi 48 ch km 1 off. Locomotives Cape Two new Cape on locomotive types enter service on the Cape Government Railways (CGR): The first four of fifteen 1st Class 4-4-0 American type passenger locomotives on the Western and Eastern systems.30–31C.G.R. Numbering Revised, Article by Dave Littley, SA Rail May–June 1993, pp. 94–95. The first six of ten 1st Class 2-6-0 Mogul type goods locomotives on the Western system.28–30 The Table Bay Harbour Board places its fourth 7 ft 1/4 in mm 0 on Brunel gauge 0-4-0 well-tank engine in excavation and breakwater construction service.115–117 Natal The Natal Government Railways places seven 2-6-0T locomotives in service, later to be modified to a 4-6-0T wheel arrangement and designated Class G.NGR Class G numbering The Natal Harbours Department in Durban places a single 0-6-0 saddle-tank locomotive in service, named John Milne.126–127 References 1879 in collapsed South Africa Category:Years in South Africa