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An essay is presented which discusses East Indians' passive resistance, or Satyagraha, strike at coals mines in Natal Midlands, South Africa in 1913, including the leadership role that the East Indian nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi played in this regard. The relationship between the coal mine industry employers and the South African government is discussed. An overview of the role that a discriminatory tax on East Indian workers played in the coal miners' strike is provided.

The article explores the history of indigenous political institutions and tax administration in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Emphasis is given to the double taxation of rural communities by both indigenous authorities and the national government and how that impacts economic growth and social change. Other topics include the labor mobilization of agricultural workers, levies paid under white rule, and constitutional authority.