The History of the Region
Helshoogte :
The first route over the “Helling”
The Banhoek Valley and its surroundings are steeped in human history, dating back to the Middle Ages.
The area formed part of the transhumance pattern of Khoi pastoralists, who established regular paths with their cattle and created clearings in the natural fynbos shrubland through controlled burning.
This practice stimulated seasonal grazing while providing water for their cattle at the mountain streams. The broad cattle paths and clearings created by the Khoi likely formed the first routes used by European settlers in the area, laying the foundation for the present settlement pattern.
The Original Route
The original Helshoogte route, which dates to 1692, shortly after the arrival of the Huguenots in 1688, traversed Ida's Valley (following the red line in the image).
This older road passed through farms occupied by Francois Viljoen and Gerhard Cloete, who were granted land by Simon van der Stel. The route continued through Rustenburg Estate, Kelsey Farm, Rus-en-Vrede (now famously known as Tokara), and Thelema.
According to some sources, the owner of Rus-en-Vrede farm, originally known as Die Hel, generated income from tolls and accommodation for farmers travelling to and from Cape Town, while allowing their cattle to rest.
The original "The Hell" route through Ida's Valley, named for its steepness (Helling), exemplifies how Khoi cattle paths were developed. The route underwent significant improvements in 1854 and remained in use until it was replaced by a new road.
Source: Houston, Douglas: Valley of the Simonsberg (1981). SA Universities Press, Cape Town, 272 pages
Today,
The Old Helshoogte Road still passes through the Ida's Valley Nature Area, offering a scenic and tarred cycling route suitable for both amateur and professional cyclists.
The landscape underwent further changes in the first half of the 20th century. Thomas Bain constructed a new Helshoogte Pass, bypassing Ida's Valley and relegating the original pass to a secluded cul-de-sac. This historical pass, now designated as route R310, is the oldest in South Africa.
According to some sources, the owner of Rus-en-Vrede farm, originally known as Die Hel, generated income from tolls and accommodation for farmers travelling to and from Cape Town, while allowing their cattle to rest.
The original "The Hell" route through Ida's Valley, named for its steepness (Helling), exemplifies how Khoi cattle paths were developed. The route underwent significant improvements in 1854 and remained in use until it was replaced by a new road. Today, the Old Helshoogte Road still passes through the Ida's Valley Nature Area, offering a scenic and tarred cycling route suitable for both amateur and professional cyclists.
The landscape underwent further changes in the first half of the 20th century. Thomas Bain constructed a new Helshoogte Pass, bypassing Ida's Valley and relegating the original pass to a secluded cul-de-sac. This historical pass, now designated as route R310, is the oldest in South Africa.
The Banhoek Valley
The 'highways' or publieke wegen of Stellenbosch were little more than dirt roads, connecting the agricultural communities and leading to surrounding settlements. These roads were meticulously mapped, with designations such as "de wapad na Dorp Somerset", "de wapad na Dorp de Paarl", "de wapad na De Jonkershoek", and "de wapad na De Bange Hoek".
Notably, the Helshoogte route has always traversed "De Bange Hoek", a notoriously treacherous stretch of dense forest, steep ravines, and lurking dangers, including leopards. This route served as the primary artery to Franschhoek, the picturesque valley of the Huguenots, and for many years, it was regarded as a perilous and intimidating journey, particularly at night.
A 1704 transport map of Zeven Rivieren corroborates the designation of Banghoek as "De Bange Hoek", literally translating to "the scared corner". The area's reputation was well-deserved, given its dangerously steep terrain, notorious gangs of criminals, and escaped prisoners seeking refuge. Moreover, the dense forests harboured lions, leopards, and other wild animals, striking fear into the hearts of travellers, who dreaded the prospect of being attacked by either animals or desperate individuals living outside the law.
Source: Zorgvliet Country Lodge Stellenbosch
Botmanskop
As you wind your way up the scenic Helshoogte Pass, Botmaskop rises on your right-hand side, heralding your arrival from Stellenbosch. The name 'Botmaskop', a corruption of 'Bootmanskop', translates to 'Boatman's Peak'. This moniker was coined due to the panoramic views it once afforded of Table Bay, a staggering 50 kilometres away.
From this strategic vantage point, Huguenot settlers in Franschhoek and residents would keep watch for incoming vessels, eagerly anticipating the arrival of traders bearing fresh produce, wine, and vital supplies, as well as news and loved ones. However, on a still, windless day, the unmistakable silhouette of Table Mountain is barely discernible above the haze-shrouded Cape Town, rendering any glimpse of Table Bay – let alone a ship – a distant memory.
Source: Ralph Pina - Outdoor Blog
Despite years of intensive mining, however, no precious metals were ever unearthed. Muller's persistent claims of silver, and later copper and gold, deposits led to an investigation that ultimately exposed his deception. Assays conducted in Amsterdam confirmed that the mined ore was worthless. The Dutch East India Company punished Muller for his fraud by exiling him to the colony of Batavia.
Although the mining project was ultimately a short-lived scam, it left an enduring legacy on the landscape, with numerous shafts, buildings, roads, and a mill constructed during its operation. The archaeological remains of several structures have survived, while others may still lie hidden within Simonsberg's dense thickets.
The ruins and shafts are well-known to the Pniel community, who regularly visit them and regard them as an integral part of their local heritage.
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The Silver Mine
The map shown is a sketch of the silver mine on Simonsberg Mountain near Stellenbosch, dated December 1745. The original sketch, titled "Profil of de Antonij Teerling van de Alree Myn aan deese Simons Berg op het Voor gebergte der Buijte Hoop in Africa," is held at the Cape Archives in Cape Town. The text on the map translates to: "Profile of the Antonij Teerling of the Alree Mine on this Simons Berg on the foothills of the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, for which the depth now in the lower mountains of the Berg is measured, according to which one this drawing has made, it is found by the month of December 1745 thus to be”.
The old VOC silver mine complex on Simonsberg, overlooking Pniel, is a site of immense industrial significance, providing tangible evidence of what may be the earliest European mining operation in South Africa, dating back to circa 1748 (Lucas 2004).
Nearly a century after the first European settlers arrived at the Cape, Frans Diederik Muller made a sensational announcement: he had discovered silver in Simonsberg, the iconic mountain towering above Stellenbosch. Notably, this venture enjoyed the official backing of the Dutch East India Company, which was eager to bolster its silver reserves—a metal that underpinned many European economies at the time.
Following his discovery, Muller secured financial backing from local businessman Olaf de Wet and established the Octroojeerde Society der Mynwerken aan de Simonsberg in 1743. As the appointed head miner, or bergmeester, Muller assembled a team comprising soldiers, sailors, and slaves to undertake the laborious task of tunnelling into Simonsberg.