Page 77 - Bulletin 14 2010

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The south Peninsula’s strategic significance had been noted as early as 1662 and resulted in the
establishment, over 80 years later, of two more buiteposte. Its coastline was invisible to look-outs

at Bosheuwel (Wynberg Hill) and Windberg (Devil’s Peak) and so it was potentially a ‘soft
underbelly’ where an enemy might land and launch a surprise attack on the settlement at Table

Bay. The suitability of Simon’s Bay as a refuge for ships also became apparent with time, and by

1741 the losses of ships in Table Bay, due to the winter storms, led to the order that it be the only
anchorage from May to August. This was in spite of its resource-poor hinterland and its virtual

inaccessibility by land transport: in the 1740s, from Hoek van Steenberg (today’s Muizenberg
Peak) southwards, there was little space for a road between mountain and sea and huge angular

rocks and boulders, ravines and potholes made it impassable to wagons. The only option was to
use boats to transport the materials for constructing and equipping the new post, and 1742 was a

trial year in this regard. The first shipments to arrive in Simon’s Bay from Table Bay did so after

spending two weeks at sea because of the foul winter weather encountered off the Peninsula. This
was a warning of transportation problems to come. Nevertheless, Simon’s Bay’s operational use

commenced in 1743 and it became the second buitepos in the south Peninsula.

Contemporaneously, the significance of the area near Muijsenburg became apparent. The name

Muijsenburg first appeared in a Proclamation, dated 30 June 1744, that defined the southernmost
boundary of the wood-cutters’ domain. Wagons carrying timbers for the ships at Simon’s Bay

were off-loaded here, at the end of the passable road (die Kaapse wapad, Sleigh: 342), and the
oxen were outspanned on the banks of Sandvlei to rest, drink and graze before returning to Cape

Town. The timbers were then towed across the bay by rowing or sailing boats. When weather and

sea conditions made this impossible the DEIC wood-cutters at Baas Harmens Kraal (Retreat)
would supply fresh trek-oxen to draw the wagons on to Simon’s Bay. During the French –

English war of 1744 – 48 a watchman was positioned at Muijsenburg because of its better view
of the entrance to False Bay and shorter reporting distance to Cape Town. It is probable that the

first poshuis and stables date from this time and that the place was named after W. W. Muijs who
was the Commissioner of buiteposte – but the origin of the name is still open to speculation. In

1751, for both transport and strategic reasons, it attained official status as a manned buitepos and

was the third in the south Peninsula.