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).Archontology.org: A Guide for Study of Historical Offices: South Africa: Governors-General: 1910-1961 (Accessed on 14 April 2017) Prince Arthur of Connaught (from 20 November). Prime Minister: Jan Smuts. Chief Justice: James Rose Innes.
Events January 10 – The League of Nations is established as the Treaty of Versailles goes into effect.
February 1 – The South African Air Force (SAAF) is established, the second autonomous Air Force in the world after the Royal Air Force (RAF).Nöthling, Kol C.J., Martins, Maj du P. (1990). Kroniek van die Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag (1920-1990), (1st ed.). Direktoraat Openbare Betrekkinge, SAW. Uitgewer: Staatsdrukkery, Pretoria. Gedruk deur Promedia Drukkers, Posbus 255, Silverton, 0127.
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)
Railways
Locomotives The South African Railways places thirty Class 12B 4-8-2 Mountain type steam locomotives in mainline service.
References