The Simonsberg Silver Mine 1743

 

The Simons berg Silver Mine 1743

Although the site has been abandoned for more than 250 years, the Simons berg silver mine remains intact, and on the farm Goede Hoop, in the Banghoek Valley, one can still see the ruins of various structures that are believed to have once been part of that mining operation.

Muller, who was appointed the company’s master miner, or "Bergmeester" subsequently set about securing a mining right, procuring the necessary equipment and hiring soldiers, sailors and some slaves in view of the complete lack of actual miners’ resident at the Cape of Good Hope. With all preparations complete in 1743, the company began the arduous task of digging long tunnels into the side of the Simons berg at different levels and sinking shafts measuring between 50 ft and 100 ft to connect those tunnels.

For the next several years, ‘mining’ activities continued largely unabated on the Simons berg but, rather suspiciously, there was nothing to show for such efforts. However, Muller continued to demand more capital to finance his mining operation, assuring the company’s investors that rich veins of silver and, later, copper and even gold, lay just ahead of their current workings. Inevitably, the company directors became suspicious of Mullers’ failure to provide any results so they ordered a sample of ore from the mine to be sent to Amsterdam for analysis. When the assay revealed that there was no silver, copper or gold content in that rock, Muller was exposed for the fraud he was.

Having given the project its support, the Dutch East India Company was particularly embarrassed by the exposure of the scam and, as fitting punishment, the company officials banished Muller to the Dutch colony of Batavia, in the East.

This particular episode is perhaps one of the earliest incidents of white-collar crime in South Africa.

Comment: This is a full day outing and hike suitable for hiking groups from 1 to 10 people.

Bring your Torches, Water and a sense of Adventure. There is the optional visit to do a picnic on the lawns of the Boschendal Estate or some lazy afternoon Wine Tasting in the surrounding area.