The following lists events that happened during 1889 in South Africa.
Incumbents
Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Hercules Robinson then Henry Brougham Loch. Governor of the Colony of Natal: until 5 June: Arthur Elibank Havelock. 5 June – 1 December: vacant starting 1 December: Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell. State President of the Orange Free State: Pieter Jeremias Blignaut (until 10 January), Francis William Reitz (starting 10 January). State President of the South African Republic: Paul Kruger. Prime Minister of the Cape of Good Hope: John Gordon Sprigg.
Events
March
13 – The Potchefstroom treaty is signed by Paul Kruger and F.W. Reitz, the respective Presidents of the South African Republic (ZAR) and the Orange Free State. The treaty binds each state to assist the other whenever either is unjustly attacked.
October
29 – The British South Africa Company receives a Royal Charter.
Unknown date
In Transvaal a national rugby team is formed.
Births
16 March – Reggie Walker, 1908 Olympic champion in the 100 metres. (d. 1951)
Deaths
Railways
Railway lines opened
23 April – Namaqualand – Braakpits Junction to Flat Mine, Concordia, . 4 September – Natal – Ladysmith to Glencoe Junction, . 21 October – Cape Western – Eerste River to Somerset West, .
Locomotives
Cape
The Cape Government Railways places twenty-four 3rd Class 4-4-0 American type tender locomotives in passenger service on the Cape Western System, the first stock locomotives to be built in quantity to detailed designs prepared in the Cape Colony.
Transvaal
Three locomotive types enter service on the newly established Nederlandsche-Zuid-Afrikaansche Spoorwegmaatschappij: The first of three 10 Tonner tramway locomotives for use on its first railway line which is being constructed from Johannesburg to Boksburg. One 13 Tonner locomotive for use on this line which would become known as the Randtram line. Five 14 Tonner locomotives for use on the Randtram line.