The following lists events that happened during 1905 in South Africa.
Incumbents Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa:Walter Hely-Hutchinson. Governor of the Colony of Natal: Henry Edward McCallum. Prime Minister of the Cape of Good Hope: Leander Starr Jameson. Prime Minister of the Orange River Colony: Alfred Milner (until 7 June), William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne (starting 7 June). Prime Minister of the Colony of Natal: George Morris Sutton (until 16 May), Charles John Smythe (starting 16 May).
Events January 26 – The Cullinan Diamond, the largest diamond in the world at , is discovered by Captain Frederick Wells at Cullinan.
Unknown date Non-whites are not given voting rights, except in the Cape Colony. The Cape Town City Hall in Darling Street is built.
Births 3 February – Herman Charles Bosman, writer and journalist, is born at Kuilsrivier, Cape Town. (d. 1951) 8 April – Helen Joseph, activist, is born in Sussex, England. (d. 1992) 5 July – Jock Cameron, cricketer. (d. 1935) 9 August – Moses Kotane, anti-apartheid activist. (d. 1978) 2 September – Harry Hart, athlete. (d. 1979) 4 September – Eileen Mary Challans, writer is born in Essex, England. (d. 1983)
Deaths 18 April – Enoch Sontonga, composer of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, dies at age 32.
Railways
Railway lines opened 1 February – Free State – Springfontein to Jagersfontein, .Statement Showing, in Chronological Order, the Date of Opening and the Mileage of Each Section of Railway, Statement No. 19, p. 185, ref. no. 200954-13 1 March – Free State – Aberfeldy to Bethlehem, . 27 March – Transvaal – Rayton to Cullinan, . 1 May – Cape Western – Hutchinson to Pampoenpoort, .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. 18 May – Cape Eastern – Xalanga to Elliot, . 1 August – Transvaal – Klerksdorp to Vierfontein (Free State), . 19 September – Cape Western – De Aar to Prieska, . 1 November – Cape Eastern – Komga to Eagle, . 1 November – Cape Midland – Humewood Road to Humansdorp (Narrow gauge), . 1 November – Natal – Elandskop to Donnybrook, . 2 November – Cape Eastern – Aliwal North to Lady Grey, . 1 December – Cape Western – Cape Town to Sea Point, . 16 December – Cape Western – Van der Stel to Strand, . 16 December – Free State – Modderpoort to Ladybrand, .
18 December – Free State – Marseilles to Maseru in Basutoland, . 20 December – Transvaal – Springs to Breyten, . 22 December – Free State – Dover to Parys, .
Locomotives Cape A single 0-4-2 tank locomotive named Britannia is placed in service by the Cape Copper Company as a shunting engine at Port Nolloth in the Cape Colony.
Natal The Natal Government Railways places two Class A Pacific locomotives in service, designed by Locomotive Superintendent D.A. Hendrie for passenger traffic on the mainline between Ladysmith and Charlestown. In 1912 they will be designated Class 2 on the South African Railways (SAR).
Transvaal The Central South African Railways places two four-cylinder rack tank steam locomotives in service on the section between Waterval Onder and Waterval Boven, but they are underpowered and prove to be failures in rack service.
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