27 – The
Group Areas Act is passed, formally segregating the races.
May
1 – 18 blacks are killed by police and more than 30 are injured on the
Witwatersrand in a massive stay-away from work, called for by the
African National Congress.
The
British Empire Games (now the Commonwealth Games), after a 12-year gap, takes place in
Auckland,
New Zealand from 4 to 11 February. Of the 12 participating countries which include Southern Rhodesia, South Africa finishes 5th on the medals list, winning 20 medals, 8 Gold, 4 Silver and 8 Bronze. The medal winners are:
^Statement Showing, in Chronological Order, the Date of Opening and the Mileage of Each Section of Railway, Statement No. 19, p. 191, ref. no. 200954-13