1953 in South Africa

Incumbents

• Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II.
• Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Ernest George Jansen.
• Prime Minister: Daniel François Malan.
• Chief Justice: Albert van der Sandt Centlivres.

  Events

• 9 - The Liberal Party of South Africa is formed in Cape Town by Alan Paton.

• 29 - Santam Insurance Company is registered, following the separation of trust and insurance operations.

• Mimi Coertse leaves South Africa for London.

• 18–20 - The 42nd Annual Conference of the African National Congress takes place in Queenstown.

• The Communist Party of South Africa, banned by the National Party government, relaunches itself underground as the South African Communist Party.
• Bantu Education Act is voted, and will start 1 January 1954.

  Births

• 12 January - Steven De Groote, classical pianist.
• 13 January - Derek Hanekom, activist and politician.
• 5 March - Tokyo Sexwale, businessman, politician and activist.
• 29 April - Bill Drummond, British musician.
• 7 June - Johnny Clegg, white Zulu musician and anthropologist.
• 22 October - Loyiso Nongxa, mathematician.
• 7 December - Naledi Pandor, national minister

  Deaths

• 1 July - Totius, Afrikaans poet.

  Railways

Railway lines opened

• 14 October - Cape - Lohatla to Sishen,.

  Locomotives

• The first of ninety Class 25 4-8-4 Northern type condensing steam locomotives.
• The first of fifty Class 25NC non-condensing versions of the Class 25 Condenser.

  Sports

Football

• 22 November - In a friendly match the South Africa national football team loses 1-3 to the Portugal national football team at the National Stadium, Lisbon, Portugal.