Permanent historical records ยท Updated 2026-11-03

1914 in South Africa

Explore 33 historical events and records for South Africa in 1914.

Historical records for South Africa in 1914

Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 33 of 33 unique records.

33Unique records
1 of 1Page
25Named events on this page
10Named people on this page
8Places on this page

August

Afrikaner Nationalist Organisation

Hertzog, James Barry Munnik ยท Pretoria ยท National Party Founder ยท Politics / National Party

Hertzog's federal party expands its organization into Pretoria.

Transvaal National Party Formation

Hertzog, James Barry Munnik ยท Pretoria ยท National Party Founder ยท Politics / National Party

The Transvaal branch of the National Party is established.

September

Death of De la Rey

de la Rey, Koos ยท Langlaagte ยท Boer Leader ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Is killed by police before the rebellion spreads.

Maritz Rebellion

Beyers, Christiaan Frederick ยท Transvaal ยท Rebel Leader ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Resigns from command before joining anti-government rebellion.

October

Maritz Rebellion

Maritz, Manie ยท Upington ยท Rebel Leader ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Defects near the German border and proclaims rebellion.

Maritz Rebellion

Botha, Louis ยท Pretoria ยท Prime Minister of South Africa ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Faces an Afrikaner revolt against the invasion of German South West Africa.

Maritz Rebellion

Smuts, Jan Christian ยท Pretoria ยท Minister of Defence ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Helps organise loyalist forces against the rebels.

Suppression of Rebellion

Botha, Louis ยท Transvaal ยท Prime Minister of South Africa ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Commands loyalist forces against rebel commandos.

Loyalist Military Coordination

Smuts, Jan Christian ยท Pretoria ยท Minister of Defence ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Supports Botha in suppressing the Afrikaner wartime rebellion.

Maritz Rebellion

Botha, Louis ยท South Africa ยท Prime Minister of South Africa ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Faces armed rebellion from antiwar Afrikaner commandos.

Maritz Rebellion

de Wet, Christiaan ยท Orange Free State ยท Rebel Leader ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Joins the rebellion against the Union government.

Maritz Rebellion Suppression

Smuts, Jan Christian ยท Pretoria ยท Minister of Defence ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Coordinates government military operations against rebel commandos.

Union Government Rebellion Crisis

Botha, Louis ยท South Africa ยท Prime Minister of South Africa ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Chooses to suppress the revolt with loyal Union forces.

November

De Wet Forces Defeated

Botha, Louis ยท Orange Free State ยท Prime Minister of South Africa ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Helps break organized resistance during the Afrikaner rebellion.

Maritz Rebellion

Kemp, Jan ยท Kalahari ยท Rebel Leader ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Leads rebels across the Kalahari toward German territory.

Rebellion Suppression

Botha, Louis ยท Orange Free State ยท Prime Minister of South Africa ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Commands government forces against rebel commandos.

December

Capture of De Wet

de Wet, Christiaan ยท Bechuanaland ยท Rebel Leader ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Is captured after the rebellion fails.

Other events (month unknown)

Alliance South Africa and Commonwealth

Botha, Louis ยท Prime Minister of South Africa ยท Warfare / World War, 1st

Rallies South Africa to the Commonwealth

Capture of Pretoria

Botha, Louis ยท Pretoria ยท Prime Minister of South Africa ยท Warfare / World War, 1st

Conquers German SW Africa

Commonwealth

Botha, Louis ยท Prime Minister of South Africa ยท Warfare / World War, 1st

Rallies South Africa to the Commonwealth

Die Burger

Hertzog, James ยท Party Leader of NP ยท Politics / National Party

Founds the National Party newspaper, "Die Burger"

General Strike

Smuts, Jan Christian ยท Minister of Interior ยท Government / Government of South Africa

A railway strike turns into a general strike & Smuts declares martial law

Independence of South Africa

Hertzog, James ยท Pretoria ยท Party Leader of NP ยท Politics / National Party

Founds the National Party for 2 stream English & Dutch cultural & national development

Martial Law

Smuts, Jan Christian ยท Minister of Interior ยท Government / Government of South Africa

A railway strike turns into a general strike & Smuts declares martial law

National Party

Hertzog, James ยท Pretoria ยท Party Leader of NP ยท Politics / National Party

Founds the National Party for 2 stream English & Dutch cultural & national development

National Party Pursues Afrikaner Autonomy

Hertzog, James Barry Munnik ยท South Africa ยท Government / Government of South Africa

James Barry Munnik Hertzog founded the National Party to advance Afrikaner political interests and the autonomy of South Africa.

Rebellion of Boer

Botha, Louis ยท Pretoria ยท Prime Minister of South Africa ยท Warfare / Military

Suppresses a Boer revolt under General de Wet

Rebellion of Boer

Botha, Louis ยท Pretoria ยท Prime Minister of South Africa ยท Warfare / World War, 1st

Suppresses a Boer revolt under General de Wet

Rebellion of Christaan de Wet

Wet, Christaan de ยท Orange Free State ยท Secretary of State for Agriculture ยท Warfare / Military

Leads a rising of 12,000 Afrikaaners which is suppressed by Prime Minister Louis Botha

Rebellion of Christaan de Wet

Wet, Christaan de ยท Orange Free State ยท Secretary of State for Agriculture ยท Warfare / World War, 1st

Leads a rising of 12,000 Afrikaaners which is suppressed by Prime Minister Louis Botha

Rebellion of suppress the Maritz

Smuts, Jan Christian ยท Minister of Interior ยท Warfare / Bower Wars 3rd

Botha and Smuts suppress the Maritz Rebellion before it becomes a wider Boer war.

South African Defence Force

Smuts, Jan Christian ยท Commander in Chief ยท Warfare / World War, 1st

Smuts forms the South African Defence Force

Strike

Smuts, Jan Christian ยท Minister of Interior ยท Government / Government of South Africa

A railway strike turns into a general strike & Smuts declares martial law

How these records were prepared

Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.