1872 in South Africa

	1872 in South Africa
1869 1870 1871 « 1872 » 1873 1874 1875
List of years in South Africa

Events

December

• Responsible government is granted to the Cape Colony and the British Governor's powers are significantly curtailed.

Unknown date

• Prime Minister John Molteno comes to power and forms the first Cape Cabinet.^[1]
• The Cape Government Railways is established under Cape Act 10 and takes over the operation of all public railways in the Colony, consisting of altogether 63 miles 26 chains (101.9 kilometres) of track from Cape Town via Stellenbosch to Wellington and from Salt River to Wynberg.^[2][3]
• The Cape Colony Government protests against the British annexation of Griqualand West, which is incorporated as a separate British colony.
• Gold is discovered in the Eastern Transvaal.
• The Voluntary Bill is passed in the Cape, abolishing state subsidies for the Anglican Church.

Deaths

• 1 September – Robert Gray, the first Bishop of Cape Town, dies at the age of 62.

Railways

New lines

• Construction begins on the Port Elizabeth-Uitenhage line.^[4]

References

1. First Cape Cabinet Formed - John Molteno Premier
2. Holland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways, Volume 1: 1859-1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-5382-0.
3. Report for year ending 31 December 1909, Cape Government Railways, Section VIII - Dates of Opening and the Length of the different Sections in the Cape Colony, from the Year 1873 to 31st December, 1909.
4. Pioneer, Little Bess & Mliss