What caused the Rand Revolt of 1922 in Johannesburg?

The Rand Revolt of 1922 was primarily caused by a conflict between mineowners and white workers over labor practices and economic pressures in Johannesburg.12

Following World War I, rising inflation increased militancy among white miners. In December 1921, the Chamber of Mines announced plans to reduce operational costs—driven by a falling gold price—by replacing semiskilled white workers with lower-paid Black laborers.1

This proposal directly threatened the "job colour bar," a practice enshrined in the 1911 Mines and Works Act that reserved skilled positions for whites and ensured them significantly higher wages. The move triggered a protest stoppage in January 1922, which escalated into a general strike and eventually a full-scale armed insurrection. The strikers, organized into commandos, sought to protect their economic status and racial privilege, marching under banners calling for a "White South Africa". The revolt was ultimately suppressed by government forces using artillery and aircraft, resulting in over 200 deaths.21