1959 in South Africa

[[Image:Flag of South Africa 1928-1994.svg|border|35px|alt=	link=Union ofSouth Africa]]	1959 in South Africa	[[Image:Flag of South Africa 1928-1994.svg|border|35px|alt=	link=Union ofSouth Africa]]
1956 1957 1958 « 1959 » 1960 1961 1962
	1959 in South African sport
List of years in South Africa

Events

April

• 5 – The Pan-Africanist Congress led by Robert Sobukwe secedes from the African National Congress.

July

• 9 – A record for the London-Cape Town flight is set by Wing Commander M.J. Beetham flying a Royal Air Force Vickers Valiant, completing the journey in 11 hours 27 minutes.

August

• 11 – Members of the United Party led by Helen Suzman secede and form the Progressive Party.

December

• 12 – The 47th Annual Conference of the African National Congress takes place in Durban.

Unknown date

• Sewsunker "Papwa" Sewgolum, an Indian golfer, wins the Dutch Open tournament.
• Charles Robberts Swart is appointed the 11th Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.

Births

• 16 March – Tito Mboweni, politician.

Railways

Locomotives

Three new Cape gauge locomotive types enter service on the South African Railways (SAR):

• May–July – Seven Class 1-DH Henschel type DH 1420 diesel-hydraulic locomotives.^[1]
• November – The first of 115 Class 32-000 General Electric type U18C1 diesel-electric locomotives in South West Africa.^[2]
• The first of 135 Class 5E1, Series 1 electric locomotives, an upgraded and more powerful version of the Class 5E.^[2][3]

References

1. Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 143–144. ISBN 0869772112.
2. South African Railways Index and Diagrams Electric and Diesel Locomotives, 610mm and 1065mm Gauges, Ref LXD 14/1/100/20, 28 January 1975, as amended
3. Dulez, Jean A. (2012). Railways of Southern Africa 150 Years (Commemorating One Hundred and Fifty Years of Railways on the Sub-Continent - Complete Motive Power Classifications and Famous Trains - 1860-2011) (1st ed.). Garden View, Johannesburg, South Africa: Vidrail Productions. p. 293. ISBN 9 780620 512282.