1871 in South Africa

	1871 in South Africa
1868 1869 1870 « 1871 » 1872 1873 1874
Years in South Africa

Events

• Gold is discovered in Pilgrim's Rest area
• A mail route is established from Cape Town to the diamond fields
• An 83.50 carats (16.70 g) diamond is discovered and leads to a diamond rush. The town of New Rush springs up (later renamed Kimberley)
• Britain annexes the diamond fields of Kimberley and Griqua West
• The Griqua claims to the diamond fields are recognised and the Griqua leader Waterboer seeks British protection
• The diamond mining stimulates migrant labour, two thirds of Black workers come from Limpopo valley

Births

• 9 January - Eugène Nielen Marais, lawyer, naturalist, poet and writer, is born in Pretoria