← 1837 1836 1835 1838 in South Africa → 1839 1840 1841
Decades:	1810s 1820s 1830s 1840s 1850s
See also:	List of years in South Africa

The following lists events that happened during 1838 in South Africa.

Events

February

• 4 February - The Zulu King, Dingaan signs a deed of cession to cede land to the voortrekkers led by Piet Retief

April

• 11 April - Battle of Italeni where Zulus repulsed the Voortrekkers close to uMgungundlovu.
• 11 April - Voortrekker leaders Piet Uys and his son Dirkie Uys die in battle at the hands of the Zulus.

December

• 4 December - British forces occupy Durban.
• 16 December - The Battle of Blood River, Voortrekkers under Andries Pretorius defeat the Zulus.
• 22 December - Potchefstroom is established

Unknown

• A municipality is formed covering the Green Point-Sea Point areas in Cape Town
• The Voortrekkers establish Natalia Republic with Pietermaritzburg as capital

Deaths

• 6 February - Voortrekker leader Piet Retief and his men are murdered by the Zulus under the command of Dingaan
• 25 October - Voortrekker leader Louis Tregardt (55), died of malaria in Delagoa bay