1896 in South Africa

See also: 1895 in South Africa, other events of 1896, 1897 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history.

Events

• South Africa's first school of mines is opened in Kimberley (later to form the core of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg)
• 6 January - Cecil Rhodes is forced to resign as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony for his involvement in the Jameson Raid
• 16 February - a train carrying 56 tons of dynamite explodes at Braamfontein, Johannesburg killing more than 78 people
• 6 August - Cape Town's first electric tram service begins operation along Adderley Street to Mowbray Hill

Births

• 3 May - Petrus Johannes Lemmer, composer of Afrikaans songs, is born in Hartbeesfontein, Transvaal

Deaths

See also: 1896 in South Africa, 16 February, 1895 in South Africa, 1896, 1897 in South Africa, 3 May, 6 August, 6 January, Afrikaans, Cape Colony