The Witwatersrand Gold Rush of 1886 marked the inception of Johannesburg, South Africa, during the Mineral Revolution. Gold deposits in the Witwatersrand region, forming the “Golden Arc,” originated from a former inland lake.
Early suspicions of gold deposits in alluvial mines of Barberton and Pilgrim’s Rest (Mpumalanga) dated back to the 1850s. Initial discoveries by individuals like John Henry Davis (1852), Pieter Jacob Marais (1853), and Lieutenant Lys (1856) faced secrecy and challenges.
The significant Witwatersrand Gold Rush began in 1884, with Jan Gerrit Bantjes as the original discoverer in June 1884. The Kromdraai Gold Mine, operated by Bantjes and Johannes Stephanus Minnaar, preceded the 1886 discovery attributed to George Harrison. The latter’s findings triggered a rush, and Cecil Rhodes purchased the first batch of gold, establishing Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa.
The rush attracted prospectors globally, leading to the rapid development of Johannesburg. President Paul Kruger’s concern about foreigners outnumbering Boers led to measures such as heavy taxes on dynamite sales, sparking tensions. The British capitalized on this, and the ensuing Jameson Raid aimed to turn the region into a British colony but faced resistance.
Founding of Johannesburg
The founding of Johannesburg from Ferreira’s Camp witnessed rapid growth, becoming South Africa’s largest town within a decade. The gold rush spurred the first railway lines and created a wealthy class of miners known as Randlords, who built estates on the Parktown Ridge. The Witwatersrand Gold Rush significantly shaped the economic and social landscape of the region.
The founding of Johannesburg, spurred by the Ferreira’s Camp gold mine in 1886, marked a significant chapter in South African history. Initially, a mining village, Ferreira’s Camp evolved into a formal settlement as gold seekers flocked to the area. Despite initial skepticism from the South African Republic (ZAR) about the gold’s longevity, the town rapidly expanded, leading to the cramped layout of Johannesburg’s central business district streets.
The origin of the city’s name, Johannesburg, is disputed, with one theory suggesting it could be named after state surveyors Johann Rissik and Christiaan Johannes Joubert. Within a decade, Johannesburg became the largest town in South Africa, outpacing the growth of Cape Town, which was over 200 years older.
The Witwatersrand Gold Rush spurred massive development, transforming Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand region into the prime metropolitan area of South Africa. The gold rush played a pivotal role in the construction of the first railway lines in the area. In response to the industry’s demand for coal and the rapid development of the goldfields in the 1880s, the ZAR government granted a concession to the Netherlands-South African Railway Company (NZASM) in 1888. This led to the construction of a 25-kilometer railway line from Johannesburg to Boksburg, known as the “Randtram.” Opening on March 17, 1890, with the first train hauled by a 14 Tonner locomotive, it became the first operational railway line in the Transvaal.
The discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand also resulted in the rise of a wealthy class of miners and industrialists known as Randlords. These influential figures built grand estates and mansions on the Parktown Ridge, leaving a lasting imprint on the landscape and contributing to the economic and social transformation of the region.