1923 in South Africa

Decades:	1900s; 1910s; 1920s; 1930s; 1940s;
See also:	; List of years in South Africa;

The following lists events that happened during 1923 in South Africa.

Incumbents

1 – The Electricity Supply Commission (Eskom), largest electricity producer in Africa, is established.

The South African Native National Congress changes its name to African National Congress.

10 April – John Watkins, cricketer (d. 2021)
30 April – Francis Tucker, rally Driver. (d. 2008)
19 May – Johannes Meintjes, artist and writer. (d. 1980)
6 August – Moira Lister, South African-born English film, stage and television actress. (d. 2007)
5 October – Glynis Johns, South African-born Welsh actress. (d. 2024)
11 October – Moses Mabhida, anti-apartheid activist. (d. 1986)
11 November – Pieter van der Byl, politician (d. 1999)
20 November – Nadine Gordimer, writer and political activist. (d. 2014)
17 December – Wilton Mkwayi, anti-apartheid activist. (d. 2004)

12 April – Transvaal – Dunswart to Apex deviation, 4 miles 16 chains (6.8 kilometres).^[2]
21 May – Natal – Queen's Bridge to Duff's Road deviation, 5 miles 55 chains (9.2 kilometres).^[2]
8 July – Natal – Canelands, Umdloti to Maidstone deviation, 6 miles 74 chains (11.1 kilometres).^[2]
6 August – Cape – Kamfersdam to Winter's Rush, 34 miles 29 chains (55.3 kilometres).^[2]
9 August – Cape – Belmont to Douglas, 53 miles 22 chains (85.7 kilometres).^[2]
30 October – Transvaal – Settlers to Tuinplaas, 13 miles 22 chains (21.4 kilometres).^[2]

The New Cape Central Railway places two 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type Garratt articulated steam locomotives in service. They will be designated Class GK on the South African Railways (SAR) in 1925.^[3]^[4]^[5]
Major Frank Dutton, SAR Signal Engineer and the Motor Transport Superintendent, conducts trials with a prototype petrol-paraffin powered Dutton road-rail tractor.^[5]^[6]
Mr. C. Lawson, Superintendent Mechanical of the SAR, experiments with gas-electric motive power and constructs a single experimental producer gas-electric locomotive. The locomotive remains in service for several years but the gas-electric concept will eventually be superseded by diesel-electric traction.^[5]^[6]^[7]

^ Archontology.org: A Guide for Study of Historical Offices: South Africa: Governors-General: 1910-1961 (Accessed on 14 April 2017)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Statement Showing, in Chronological Order, the Date of Opening and the Mileage of Each Section of Railway, Statement No. 19, p. 188, ref. no. 200954-13
^ Holland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 1: 1859–1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 79–80. ISBN 978-0-7153-5382-0.
^ Hamilton, Gavin N., The Garratt Locomotive - Garratt Locomotives produced by Beyer, Peacock, retrieved 10 November 2012
^ ^a ^b ^c Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 93–94, 118–119. ISBN 0869772112.
^ ^a ^b Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1945). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, October 1945. pp. 782-783.
^ Heymans, Brig. H.B.; Parsley, Dr. G.M.J. (2000).The SAR Experimental Suction Gas-Electric Locomotive. Paper dated 28 September 2000.