1861 in South Africa

Incumbents

• Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa:
• * Sir George Grey.
• * Sir Robert Wynyard.
• Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of Natal: John Scott.
• State President of the Orange Free State: Marthinus Wessel Pretorius.
• President of the Executive Council of the South African Republic: Stephanus Schoeman.

  Events

• 15 - Sir Robert Wynyard becomes acting Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa.

• 16 - Roman Rock Lighthouse at the entrance to Simon's Town begins operating after taking 4 years to build.

  Births

• 10 November - Robert T. A. Innes, astronomer and secretary-accountant at the Cape observatory.
• Sefako Mapogo Makgatho, the second African National Congress president.

  Deaths