The following lists events that happened during 1904 in South Africa. Incumbents Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa:Walter Hely-Hutchinson. Governor of the Colony of Natal: Henry Edward McCallum. Prime Minister of the Cape of Good Hope: John Gordon Sprigg (until 22 February), Leander Starr Jameson (starting 22 February). Prime Minister of the Orange River Colony: Alfred Milner. Prime Minister of the Colony of Natal: George Morris Sutton. Events February Pneumonic plague breaks out in Johannesburg. June 22 – The first of 62,000 Chinese labourers arrive in South Africa to relieve the shortage of unskilled mine workers. Unknown date Der shtral, a Yiddish-language newspaper is founded. The Social Democratic Federation (SDF) is established in Cape Town. Births 16 February – Philip Rabinowitz, South African record-breaking sprinter (d. 2008) Deaths 3 June – Vincent Tancred, South African cricketer (b. 1875) 14 July – Paul Kruger, exiled president of the South African Republic, dies in Clarens, Switzerland, at the age of 78. 1 November – Willem Eduard Bok, politician (b. 1846) Railways Railway lines opened 1 February – Cape Western – Maitland to Ottery, . 1 March – Cape Midland – Le Roux to Oudtshoorn, . 7 June – Cape Western – Paarl to Franschhoek, . 15 June – Free State – Thaba 'Nchu to Modderpoort, . 17 August – Cape Eastern – Indwe to Xalanga, . 1 September – Free State – Hamilton to Tempe, . 7 September – Cape Eastern – Amabele to Komga, . 17 October – Cape Eastern – Middledrift to Adelaide, . 3 November – Natal – Pietermaritzburg to Elandskop, . December – Cape Western – Artois to Ceres Road, . 15 December – Transvaal – Langlaagte to Vereeniging, . Locomotives Cape Four new Cape gauge locomotive types enter service on the Cape Government Railways (CGR): Two experimental superheated 6th Class 4-6-0 locomotives. In 1912 they will be designated by the South African Railways (SAR). Four Karoo Class Pacific passenger steam locomotives. In 1912 they will be designated by the SAR. The last eight 8th Class 2-8-0 Consolidation type locomotives. In 1912 they will be designated Class 8Z on the SAR. The final batch of ten 8th Class Mastodon type locomotives. In 1912 they will be designated Class 8F on the SAR. Six "Type B" 4-6-0 steam locomotives enter service on the Avontuur narrow gauge line in the Langkloof. A single