1954 in South Africa

Incumbents

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

  Events

• Mimi Coertse starts tutorship under Maria Hittorff and Josef Witt.

• 17 - The Federation of South African Women is launched in Johannesburg.
• 23 - The Afrikaans-German Culture Union is founded in Pretoria.

• 23 - The Trust Bank of South Africa is founded by Jan S. Marais.

• 14 - Sasolburg is established near the Sasol plant in the northern Orange Free State.

• 10 - The much-travelled statue of Paul Kruger is unveiled in Church Square, Pretoria by Dr. D.F. Malan.
• 11 - Daniel François Malan announces his retirement.

• 30 - Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom becomes the 6th Prime Minister of South Africa.

• 16–19 - The 43rd Annual Conference of the African National Congress is held in Durban.

• George Bizos is admitted as a lawyer to the South African Bar.

  Births

• 13 January - Trevor Rabin, South African–American musician, founder member of Rabbitt.
• 2 May - Bulelani Ngcuka, first national director of the National Prosecuting Authority.
• 10 May - Lindiwe Sisulu, member of Parliament of South Africa, national minister.
• 10 June - Nelson Dladla, Teenage Dladla, soccer player.
• 23 August - Ngconde Balfour, politician.
• 12 October - Duma Ndlovu, filmmaker, poet, playwright. Well-known for creating Muvhango & Uzalo TV shows.
• 5 November - Koos Kombuis, poet, singer, entertainer and writer.
• 26 November - John Matshikiza, actor, theatre director, poet and journalist.
• 21 December - Gysie Pienaar, rugby player & father of rugby player Ruan Pienaar

  Deaths

Railways

Locomotives

• The first of 120 Class GMA branch line and Class GMAM mainline 4-8-2+2-8-4 "Double Mountain" Garratt articulated locomotives.
• Twenty-five Class GO 4-8-2+2-8-4 "Double Mountain" light branch line Garratt locomotives.

  Sports

Football

• 1 May - The South Africa national football team beats the Israel national football team 2-1 at the Rand Stadium, Johannesburg in a friendly match.