Complex sentence: The Cape Colony received a degree of independence in 1872 when "Responsible Government" was declared and, in 1877, the government of Prime Minister John Molteno began construction of the railway line connecting Graaff-Reinet to Port Elizabeth on the coast.
Split into simpler sentences: The Cape Colony received a degree of independence in 1872 when "Responsible Government" was declared. In 1877, the government of Prime Minister John Molteno began construction of the railway line connection Graaff-Reinet to Port Elizabeth on the coast.