The governor of the Cape, Sir Alfred Milner, opens the Graaff-Reinet-Middelburg railway line

Sir Alfred Milner was a British statesman and colonial Administrator.  Milner came to South Africa in May 1897. In South Africa he became governor of the Cape. The cape was under British rule, as opposed to the Transvaal which was under Afrikaner rule, led by State President Paul Kruger. After the discovery of gold in Johannesburg, Milner and Kruger became involved in a dispute. Milner wanted to take over the Transvaal because he realized that the discovery of gold meant that all power would shift from the Cape to the Transvaal. Kruger on the other hand was set on keeping the British out of the Transvaal. Milner opened the Graaf-Reinet-Middleburg railway line on 3 March 1898.Though parts of the railway line is still operational, the line to Graaf-Reinet is closed to traffic and abandoned.