The following lists events that happened during 1943 in South Africa.

• Monarch: King George VI.
• Governor-General: Sir Patrick Duncan (until 17 July), Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet (acting starting 17 July).
• Prime Minister: Jan Christiaan Smuts.
• Chief Justice: Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet then Ernest Frederick Watermeyer.

• 27 January – Prime Minister of South Africa Jan Smuts asks parliament for approval to send troops into Europe.^[1]
• 13 May – German Afrika Korps and Italian troops in North Africa surrender to Allied forces.
• 18 July – Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet is appointed Officer Administering the Government, i.e. acting Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.

Unknown date

• Reclamation work begins on the Foreshore in Cape Town.
• 500 Polish orphans arrive in Oudtshoorn from the Soviet Union.^[2]

• 5 March – Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi, artist
• 30 May – Ken Andrew, politician
• 1 June – Lorrie Wilmot, cricketer (d. 2004)
• 29 October – Ina Cronjé, politician (d. 2023)

• 6 July – Alexander Coultate Rabagliati, fighter pilot, is reported missing in action.
• 17 July – Sir Patrick Duncan, 6th Governor-General of the Union of South Africa. (b. 1870)

• 1942–43 South African cricket season