Struben Mine’s unexpected gold trail

The Struben Mine inside the Kloofendal Nature Reserve has a rich history of discovery and family. Historian and Struben Mine ‘fundi’, Rod Kruger, shared the story of the mine through the ages.

The Struben brothers, Fred and Harry, prospected for gold on the farm, Wilgespruit, from 1884 to 1885. Wilgespruit comprised what is known today as Little Falls, Struben’s Valley, out south to Ondekkers Road, including Kloofendal Nature Reserve and north to about Honeydew.

After running out of gold in Sterkfontein, Fred Struben who had been going through all the Witwatersrand West hills, found gold at Kloofendal. In his diary he said, “There was a grain of gold for every grain of sand.” Harry Struben bought the eastern half of Wilgespruit from the owner, Louw Geldenhuys.

The brothers bought a stamp mill from England and began mining into the hill. Harry called the mine ‘The Confidence Reef ‘ because the brothers were confident the mine would make them rich.

At this time, George Harrison was working on the farm. Harrison built a house on the farm, Langlaagte, where he discovered the Main Reef. The Confidence Reef Mine, like all small mines on the Witwatersrand hills, gave gold only on the surface. The Struben brothers put claims on the Main Reef and called it the Crown Reef. They sold their claims in 1888 for a small fortune. These claims developed into the Crown Mines.

Today Kruger takes tourists up to the Confidence Reef Mine and tells them stories about the pioneers. “The Confidence Reef Mine was a vital link in the chain of events that led to the finding of the Main Reef! If George Harrison had not gone there looking for work, the Main Reef may never have, or only much later, been discovered! The story of early gold mining and the Confidence Reef is a part of world history that every one should hear!” Kruger added.

Details: Kloofendal Nature Reserve, 011 674 2980.

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