As befitted a regiment based from the gold-rich Witwatersrand region, it had a very close relationship with the mining establishment of the time; and its cap badge further emphasised this link.

The inter-war years saw the regiment deployed during the 1922 Rand Revolt, when rebellious South African Communist Party miners attempted to overthrow the government of General Jan Smuts.

As a consequence, the Witwatersrand Rifles adopted the uniform and many of the traditions of this Scottish Lowland regiment.

During its service in North Africa, the Witwatersrand Rifles was amalgamated with Regiment de la Rey.

When conscription ended in 1993, the regiment began an active recruitment drive to maintain reserve troop strength.

Late in its history the Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment attracted volunteers for regular part-time training.

[1] In August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa.