The second South African aquatic championships started on 22nd February 1901, at the Claremont Baths in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. The event included one 100 yard Championship  swimming race, various other carnival-type races like the blindfold race and handicap, and two water polo teams competing for the Currie Cup.

The whole affair was abandoned prematurely by the death of Queen Victoria on that same day - after the heats but before the finals of the 100 yards race. By then the Boer War was in its second year - and many men were involved with the fighting.

An Australian newspaper from Queensland carried the following (probably incorrectly reported date) report on 1 May 1901 about  EM Wearin, who became a local hero in South African swimming.