Park station place of struggle

The years immediately after the declaration of the Union of South Africa in 1910 were very turbulent indeed. Apart from political problems, trade union difficulties, strikes in 1913 and 1914 and a rebellion of Afrikaner leaders in the same year, the Union, as part of the British Empire, became embroiled in the World War which lasted from 1914-1918. The aftermath of the war was severely felt in South Africa. Economic depression, poverty, droughts, a rising cost of living and seething labour problems were the elements underlying the eruption of the industrial disturbances which hit the Witwatersrand in 1922. Two years later the government was defeated by the combined forces of Nationalist and Labour, better known as the Pact government of 1924.

During the 1910's labour unrest was rife on the Witwatersrand. In the gold mines miners had to contend with dangerous working conditions, miners' diseases and long underground working hours. In July 1913 more than 18 000 white miners at 63 of the 69 Reef gold mines went on strike. The newly formed Union Defence Minister, Jan Smuts, sought permission to deploy Imperial troops. Strikers gathered in central Johannesburg and upon hearing that trains were still running and railwaymen were still at work at Park Station, they marched to the station. The station bar was looted and the booking and baggage offices were set on fire. The strikers then proceeded to torch the building of the newspaper The Star. During the skirmish 48 of the 68 policemen guarding the station and 14 civilians were injured.

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