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This riot was one of many black riots against socio-economic problems in urban centres right through South Africa during the 1920s. The direct causes of the riot were municipal sorghum beer regulations which the blacks regarded as unfair restriction of their freedom, and low wages for blacks complicated by unemployment. Furthermore neither the Natives' Advisory Council, nor the City Council, nor the police was able to play a conciliatory role, and the City Council failed to present timely practical solutions.
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C.J.P. Le Roux (2024) studied this question.
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