The following lists events that happened during 1940 in South Africa.
Incumbents
Monarch: King George VI. Governor-General : Sir Patrick Duncan Prime Minister: Jan Christiaan Smuts. Chief Justice: James Stratford.
Events
January
27 – A peace resolution introduced in the Parliament of South Africa is defeated 81–59. 29 – The Herenigde Nasionale Party is established.
June
11 – The Union of South Africa declares war on Italy.
December
3 – The Royal Navy battle cruiser HMS Renown and aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal arrive at Cape Town.
Births
19 January – Barend du Plessis, government minister
31 January – Kitch Christie, Springbok rugby coach. (d. 1998) 9 February – J. M. Coetzee, writer and 2003 Nobel Prize laureate. 18 February – Prue Leith, restaurateur and broadcaster. 22 February – Johnson Mlambo, Pan Africanist Congress politician. 8 March – Fred Brownell, herald, designer of the Flag of South Africa. 6 June – Tiger Lance, cricketer. (d. 2010) 28 August – Joseph Shabalala, choral director (d. 2020) 9 October – Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, politician. (d. 2009) 21 October – Manfred Mann, South African-British rock musician. 25 December – Aziz Pahad, politician (d. 2023)
Deaths
1 June – Jan F. E. Celliers, poet, writer and dramatist. (b. 1865) 10 August – Abe Bailey, diamond tycoon, politician, financier and cricketer. (b. 1864)
Railways
Railway lines opened
12 January – Transvaal: Crown to Langlaagte, . 2 December – Transvaal: Germiston to Jupiter, .