| Fordsburg Square | |
|---|---|
 The toilets are the only building remaining from the battle | |
 Interactive map of Fordsburg Square | |
| General information | |
| Type | Municipal square |
| Location | Mint Road, Fordsburg, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 26°12′17″S28°01′15″E / 26.20477°S 28.0209°E /-26.20477; 28.0209 |
Fordsburg Square inFordsburg is a thriving square that is the site of aflea market was recently known for being run-down. This square inJohannesburg is the location of a battle between striking miners and the South African police, army and air force.
Fordsburg Square is the site of aflea market that was known for being run-down.
TheRand Rebellion against the powers of law and order ended here on the 14 March 1922.[1] The uprising came out of a strike of black gold miners that started on `1 January 1922 in response to five shilling wage cut per shift. The White workers joined them ten days later because the owners of the mine had decided to cut costs by employing (cheaper) more black miners instead of the existing white workers.[2]
The workers did not just withdraw their labour but the a portion of the 20,000 white workers and the 180,000 black miners took over areas of Johannesburg and they were in control ofBenoni,Brakpan suburbs ofFordsburg andJeppe. The strike had become an open rebellion and on the 15 March the army was called to bombard the Fordsburg square which was deemed the stronghold of the rebels.[3] By this time the rebels had dug substantialWorld War I trenches across the square. Even theSouth African Air Force was called to bomb this square but they hit the nearby Mint RoadPresbyterian Church.[1]
One of the buildings that offered protection to the rebels was the municipal toilets and these are still standing and in use. In 2013 a Blue Plaque was added to the side of that building to commemorate the role that the square took in theHistory of South Africa.[1]
