The following lists events that happened during 1863 in South Africa.

Incumbents Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Sir Philip Wodehouse. Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of Natal: John Scott. State President of the Orange Free State: Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (until 17 June).Archontology.org: A Guide for Study of Historical Offices, Orange Free State: Heads of State: 1854-1902 (Accessed on 14 April 2017) Jacobus Johannes Venter (acting from 20 June). President of the Executive Council of the South African Republic: W.C. Janse van Rensburg (acting until instated).Archontology.org: A Guide for Study of Historical Offices, South African Republic (Transvaal): Heads of State: 1857-1877 (Accessed on 14 April 2017)

Events March 18 – Joseph Allison becomes acting State President of the Orange Free State until 17 June during the absence of M.W. Pretorius.

April 1 – The Cape Town and Green Point Tramway Company commences with the first horse-drawn trams in Cape Town from the foot of Adderley Street and out along Somerset Road to Green Point.

June

17 – M.W. Pretorius resigns as State President of the Orange Free State. 20 – Jacobus Johannes Venter becomes acting State President of the Orange Free State.

October 23 – Acting President Willem Cornelis Janse van Rensburg becomes President of the Executive Council of the South African Republic.

November 4 – The Cape Town-Wellington railway is officially inaugurated.Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1943). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter I - The Period of the 4 ft. 8½ in. Gauge. South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, June 1943. pp. 437-440.The South African Railways - Historical Survey. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, pp. 4, 8.

Births

Deaths

Railways

Railway lines opened 4 November – Cape Western – Stellenbosch to Wellington, .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

References