1921 in South Africa

Incumbents

• Monarch: King George V.
• Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Prince Arthur of Connaught.
• Prime Minister: Jan Smuts.
• Chief Justice: James Rose Innes.

  Events

• 3 - The second census of the Union of South Africa takes place.
• 24 - The Bulhoek Massacre takes place with an estimated 163 killed.

• 30 - The Communist Party of South Africa is established.

• 28 - White gold miners on the Witwatersrand go on strike in the Rand Rebellion.

• Dagbreek men's residence opens at Stellenbosch University.

  Births

• 30 May - Jamie Uys, actor and film director.

  Deaths

• 10 September - John Tengo Jabavu, editor of South Africa's first newspaper in Xhosa.

  Railways

Railway lines opened

• 1 November - Transvaal - Pretoria West to Roberts Heights,.
• 28 November - Natal - Booth Junction to Cato Ridge,.

  Locomotives

• February - A single experimental South African Class GA 2-6-0+0-6-2| 2-6-0+0-6-2 Garratt articulated steam locomotive, the first Cape gauge Garratt in South Africa.
• June - The first of seven Class GB 2-6-2+2-6-2 Garratt locomotives.