See also: 1840 in South Africa, other events of 1841, 1842 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history.

Events

• Missionary David Livingstone arrives in the Cape Colony and proceeds to Kuruman before journeying through Central Africa.
• Voortrekkers set up a council in Potchefstroom

Births

Deaths

• 1 May - Sir Rufane Shaw Donkin, acting Governor of the Cape Colony who supervised the arrival and settling of the British settlers and who founded Port Elizabeth, dies in Southampton, England