Rand Rebellion
Encyclopedia
The Rand Rebellion was an armed uprising of white miners in the Witwatersrand
region of South Africa
, in March 1922, sparked off by their intensified exploitation by their employers. Jimmy Green
, a prominent politician in the Labour Party
, was one of the leaders of the strike. Following a drop in the world price of gold from 130 shillings a fine troy ounce in 1919 to 95s/oz in December 1921, the companies tried to maintain their old profit margins by decreasing wages, and a weakening of the colour bar to enable the promotion of cheaper black miners to skilled and supervisory positions.
The rebellion started as a strike by white mineworkers on 28 December 1921 and became an open rebellion against the state. Subsequently, the workers took over the cities of Benoni
and Brakpan, and the Johannesburg
suburbs of Fordsburg
and Jeppe
. The young Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) took an active part in the uprising on grounds of class struggle while opposing racist aspects of the strike, typified by the slogan; "Workers of the world, unite and fight for a white South Africa!"
Several communists, including the strike leaders Percy Fischer and Harry Spendiff, were killed as the rebellion was quelled by state forces. The rebellion was eventually crushed by "considerable military firepower and at the cost of over 200 lives".
Prime Minister Jan Smuts
crushed the rebellion with 20,000 troops, artillery, tanks, and bomber aircraft. This caused a political backlash and he lost the following elections in 1924 to a coalition of the National and Labour parties which introduced the Industrial Conciliation Act 1924, Wage Act 1925 and Mines and Works Amendment Act 1926, which recognised white trades unions and reinforced the colour bar. Under instruction from the Comintern
, the CPSA reversed its attitude toward the colour bar and adopted a new 'Native Republic' policy.
Witwatersrand
The Witwatersrand is a low, sedimentary range of hills, at an elevation of 1700–1800 metres above sea-level, which runs in an east-west direction through Gauteng in South Africa. The word in Afrikaans means "the ridge of white waters". Geologically it is complex, but the principal formations...
region of South Africa
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...
, in March 1922, sparked off by their intensified exploitation by their employers. Jimmy Green
Jimmy Green
Jimmy Green was a South African Jewish trade unionist and a senior Labour Party politician. He was elected to the Johannesburg City Council in 1920 for Booysens and served as deputy Mayor of Johannesburg . In 1951 he stepped down as a City Councillor for Booysens and was succeeded by Harry Schwarz,...
, a prominent politician in the Labour Party
Labour Party (South Africa)
The South African Labour Party, formed in March 1910 following discussions between trade unions and the Independent Labour Party of Transvaal, was a professedly democratic socialist party representing the interests of the white working class.-History:...
, was one of the leaders of the strike. Following a drop in the world price of gold from 130 shillings a fine troy ounce in 1919 to 95s/oz in December 1921, the companies tried to maintain their old profit margins by decreasing wages, and a weakening of the colour bar to enable the promotion of cheaper black miners to skilled and supervisory positions.
The rebellion started as a strike by white mineworkers on 28 December 1921 and became an open rebellion against the state. Subsequently, the workers took over the cities of Benoni
Benoni, Gauteng
Benoni is a city with 654,509 inhabitants on the East Rand in the South African province of Gauteng. Since 2000, it has been part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.- History :...
and Brakpan, and the Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
suburbs of Fordsburg
Fordsburg, Gauteng
Fordsburg is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is located in Region 8.Today, Fordsburg is a major centre of Indian and Pakistani South African culture, with large number of halal restaurants...
and Jeppe
Jeppestown, Gauteng
Jeppestown is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is located in Region 8.-History:Jeppestown was established in or after 1886 by C.E.G. Julius Jeppe, who formed the Ford and Jeppe Estate Company with his son, who was also called Julius Jeppe, and L.P. Ford. In 1893, the Masonic temple was...
. The young Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) took an active part in the uprising on grounds of class struggle while opposing racist aspects of the strike, typified by the slogan; "Workers of the world, unite and fight for a white South Africa!"
Several communists, including the strike leaders Percy Fischer and Harry Spendiff, were killed as the rebellion was quelled by state forces. The rebellion was eventually crushed by "considerable military firepower and at the cost of over 200 lives".
Prime Minister Jan Smuts
Jan Smuts
Jan Christiaan Smuts, OM, CH, ED, KC, FRS, PC was a prominent South African and British Commonwealth statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various cabinet posts, he served as Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948...
crushed the rebellion with 20,000 troops, artillery, tanks, and bomber aircraft. This caused a political backlash and he lost the following elections in 1924 to a coalition of the National and Labour parties which introduced the Industrial Conciliation Act 1924, Wage Act 1925 and Mines and Works Amendment Act 1926, which recognised white trades unions and reinforced the colour bar. Under instruction from the Comintern
Comintern
The Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
, the CPSA reversed its attitude toward the colour bar and adopted a new 'Native Republic' policy.
See also
- Benjamin Jennings CaddyBenjamin Jennings CaddyBenjamin Jennings Caddy was a militant trade unionist who is regarded as the doyen of the trade union movement in South Africa. Caddy was born in Australia and in 1898 at the age of 17 he emigrated to South Africa. In March 1922, he was arrested during the Rand Revolt....
- Jimmy GreenJimmy GreenJimmy Green was a South African Jewish trade unionist and a senior Labour Party politician. He was elected to the Johannesburg City Council in 1920 for Booysens and served as deputy Mayor of Johannesburg . In 1951 he stepped down as a City Councillor for Booysens and was succeeded by Harry Schwarz,...
- Jacob van Deventer
- Ernest GlanvilleErnest GlanvilleErnest Glanville was a South African author, known especially for his short stories which are widely read and taught in South Africa....
- Cape Mounted RiflemenCape Mounted RiflemenThe Cape Mounted Riflemen were South African military units. There were two separate successive regiments of that name. Some military historians distinguish between them by labelling the first as "imperial" and the second as "colonial"....
- Light Horse RegimentLight Horse RegimentThe Light Horse Regiment , formerly the Imperial Light Horse , is a reserve unit of the South African Army. The regiment is an armoured car reconnaissance unit...
- South African Air ForceSouth African Air ForceThe South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...