The first formal event was organised in 1903, following a series of exhibition matches that had been held over the preceding ten years.

[1] Although non-whites had played in the South African Open before, most notably when Papwa Sewgolum finished second in 1963, it was not until 1972 that black golfers were allowed to compete.

In December 2020 it will move away from Johannesburg and be held at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City.

[3] From 1999 to 2016, the tournament was the Sunshine Tour's flagship event for the purposes of the Official World Golf Ranking, earning a minimum of 32 OWGR points for the winner.

[4] In 2020, the Alfred Dunhill Championship once again replaced the South African Open as the tour's flagship event.