<P> Over the weekend of 30 September many of the well - known mines closed, including Simmer & Jack, Wolhuter, Geldenhuis Deep, Henry Nourse and Ferreira . Robinson Deep closed on 3 October . By that time all the Consolidated Gold Fields mines had closed . On 7 October the government listed 66 major mines closed, with only 17 having applied to continue operations . Some mines offered bonuses to white workers if they remained . Some of the discharged Africans started rioting and looting . Thus blacks from Robinson Deep looted Chinese shops at Ophirton . On 8 October, at a' puza' shop in the location near Vrededorp, shots were fired and shops looted . Some of the foreigners were arrested and charged with treason, like the jingoist editor of the Transvaal Leader R.J. Pakeman . Others joined the Boer forces, like John Y.F. Blake, an Irish - American, who commanded the First Irish Brigade . The Scandinavian corps, renowned for their bravery, was virtually wiped out at the battle of Magersfontein . Viscount Villebois - Mareuil formed a small French force . </P> <P> In late September the government appointed a Rust en Orde (Peace and Order) commission . It consisted of D.E. Schutte (the peace - time commissioner of police), Dr F.E.T. Krause (the head public prosecutor) J.L. van der Merwe (the mining commissioner) and N.P. van den Berg (the head landdrost (magistrate)). A new police force was established for the whole Witwatersrand . Its leader was Captain de Korte, a former officer in the Dutch army . Johannesburg was relatively unaffected by the first eight months of the war . There were of course disrupted services, shortages and a certain amount of fear, tension and boredom . </P> <P> By mid-October the government had taken over and begun to work three mines: the Robinson, the Bonanza and the Ferreira Deep . J.H. Munnik, the acting state mining engineer, was appointed manager of the Robinson mine . In November they added the Rose Deep as well . Several other mines were allowed to operate under their own management . These were Ferreira, Village Main Reef, the Wemmer, the Johannesburg Pioneer and the Worcester . Later Langlaagte Deep, Crown Deep, Geldenhuis Estate were added . It is thought that between 12,000 and 13,000 blacks remained on the mines . From 10 October to 30 April 1900 gold valued at an estimated £ 1,710,549 was won from the mines . In May another £ 240,000 was taken . Working expenses were put at about £ 630,000 of which only two - thirds was paid . The profit accruing to the government was £ 1, 5 million, enough to cover war expenses up to that point in time . </P> <P> Also of use to the Boers was Begbie's armaments factory . Thomas Begbie & Company, a foundry situated near the City and Suburban mine just south of Johannesburg, was commandeered by the government two days after the war had begun . On 24 April 1900 there was a huge explosion at Begbie's factory . The critical question facing the authorities was whether it was an accident or sabotage . Several arrests were made, the suspicion being that it was the work of British agents, but nothing was proved . The carelessness of men filling shells or smoking cigarettes nearby, could not be excluded . As a result of the explosion Schutte was removed as special commandant of the Witwatersrand and Dr Krause was appointed in his stead . </P>

Description of settlement and land use of johannesburg