The following lists events that happened during 1946 in South Africa.
Incumbents Monarch: King George VI. Governor-General: Gideon Brand van Zyl (starting 1 January). Prime Minister: Jan Christiaan Smuts. Chief Justice: Ernest Frederick Watermeyer.
Events January 1 – Gideon Brand van Zyl is appointed the 7th Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.
March 12 – The South African Indian Congress delegation is received by the Viceroy, Lord Wavell, in Delhi, India, and submits a petition drafted in consultation with Mohandas Gandhi. 12 – The Indian Representative Act is repealed. 12 – India terminates the trade agreement with South Africa. 15 – The Asiatic Land Tenure Act, the "Ghetto Act", is amended to state that Indians may only live where Indians had resided in non-proclaimed areas. 31 – 6,000 Indians march in Durban in protest to the Asiatic Land Tenure Act.
April 16 – The Eureka Diamond, the first diamond discovered in South Africa, is sold in London for £5,700.
June 11 – India recalls its High Commissioner from South Africa. 22 – During a prayer meeting in New Delhi, India, Mahatma Gandhi calls for South Africa to stop hooliganism by whites. 23 – A group of white men attack and assault a group of Indian Passive Resisters.Indian passive resistance in South Africa: 1946 – 1948 (Accessed on 4 April 2017)
July 8 – Indian protests against government legislation lead to the arrest of hundreds of Indians.
Births 8 January – Whitey Basson, businessman and billionaire, former CEO of Shoprite 18 January – Jakes Gerwel, academic and politician. (d. 2012) 19 July – Lucas Malan, Afrikaans poet, author and academic 15 September – Mike Procter, cricketer (d. 2024) 6 October – Tony Greig, cricketer (d. 2012) 5 December – Sarel van der Merwe, former rally and racing driver 18 December – Steve Biko, anti-apartheid activist. (d. 1977)
Deaths 24 January – Morris Alexander, politician (b. 1877) 13 April – William Henry Bell, musician, composer and first director of the South African College of Music. (b. 1873)
Railways
Railway lines opened 1 June – Transvaal: Ogies to Vandyksdrif, .Statement Showing, in Chronological Order, the Date of Opening and the Mileage of Each Section of Railway, Statement No. 19, p. 191, ref. no. 200954-13
Locomotives The South African Railways places the first of fifty Class GEA Garratt locomotives in service.
References