The following lists events that happened during 1885 in South Africa. Incumbents Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Hercules Robinson. Governor of the Colony of Natal: Henry Ernest Gascoyne Bulwer. State President of the Orange Free State: Jan Brand. State President of the South African Republic: Paul Kruger. Prime Minister of the Cape of Good Hope: Thomas Upington. Events February 26 – The Berlin Conference ends and the Scramble for Africa begins. September 30 – A British force abolishes the Boer republic of Stellaland and adds it to British Bechuanaland. November 28 – The railway line from Cape Town to Kimberley is completed. Births 31 January – Marthinus Johannes de Jong, landscape painter, is born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Deaths Railways Railway lines opened 2 September – Cape Eastern – Molteno to Aliwal North, . 28 November – Cape Western – Oranjerivier to Kimberley, .< 21 December – Natal – Merrivale to Estcourt, . References South Africa South Africa 1880s in South Africa Years of the 19th century in South Africa