The following lists events that happened during 1661 in South Africa.
Incumbents
Commander of the Cape - Jan van Riebeeck
Events
Pieter Cruythoff & 15 men begin an expedition towards north of the Cape. Pieter Cruythoff and his men reach Namaqua territory, describing them as giants in animal skins with iron & copper beadwork. The VOC complains that Jan van Riebeeck was establishing a colony and a town, a plan that had been discouraged by the company. The Duijnhoop redoubt becomes abandoned, and falls into disrepair. Vanrhynsdorp is first explored by Europeans through Pieter van Meerhoff. The first permanent British settlement on the African continent is made at James Island in the Gambia River, which becomes a key post in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Jacques de Villiers, part of the future de Villiers winemaking family, is born.
References