See also: 1970 in South Africa, other events of 1971, 1972 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history.

Events

• St Lucia Lake and the turtle beaches and coral reefs of Maputaland have been listed by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR).
• The International Court of Justice gives an advisory opinion, supporting the view of the United Nations for South Africa to relinquish control of South West Africa

Births

• July 30 — Mzukisi Sikali, world champion boxer (d. 2005)
• November 12 — Gert Thys, long-distance runner
• December 17 — Alan Khan, radio DJ

Deaths

• Ahmed Timol dies in police detention
• John Beaver Marks, political activist and trade unionist, dies in Moscow, Russia, after suffering a heart attack
• March - Ephraim Mojalefa Ngatane, artist, dies at the age of 33 from Tuberculosis