1710s in South Africa

Governor of the Cape Colony - Louis van Assenberg^[1]
16 March - A smallpox epidemic broke out at the Cape Colony. A smallpox outbreak kills 25% of the White Cape population and devastates the Cape Khoikhoi. The Khoikhoi, due to a lack of immunity, have their population nearly wiped.^[2]^[3]^[4] 90% of the Khoikhoi population ends up being killed in the smallpox epidemic.^[5]^[6]^[7]
Cape slaves flee but are captured and punished. Thomas van Bengalen is hanged, and the leader Tromp van Madagascar is sentenced to impalement but commits suicide.^[8] Other Cape captives have their Achilles tendons severed or feet broken on the wheel.
A Cape labour shortage follows, land becomes "ownerless" and is taken by colonial cattle farmers.^[9]^[10]^[11]

The Trek Boers raid Khoikhoi cattle near Saldanha Bay.^[12]^[13]
A list of all the free men at the Dutch Cape Colony is compiled for 1715. It is divided into three districts; the Cape of Good Hope, Stellenbosch and the Drakenstein.^[14]
A new lease renewal condition is introduced. Leases had to be renewed one month after expiration, with penalties for each emission.^[15]
Khoisan in Land van Waveren attack the European farmers, stealing 200 cattle and several thousand sheep.^[16]
The Constantia estate is sold after the Dutch government orders the confiscation of the Van der Stel lands.^[17]
Abraham de Villiers acquires the Boschendal farm estate.^[18]
The Lady of Good Hope is introduced to the coat of arms of the Cape Colony.^[19]
The Isle de France in the Indian Ocean becomes a French colony.^[20]

Events