Robbers Pass

Robbers Pass is situated in the Mpumalanga province, on the R533 between Ohrigstad and Pilgrims Rest (South Africa).

Landmarks include the Robbers Grave which is near Pilgrims Rest, a village from the gold discovery days that is now preserved as a tourist attraction.

Stage coaches stopped there a few times a day on their way to the Pilgrim’s Rest gold fields and Lorenzo Marques (Mozambique).

This was Koeleman’s first-hand recollection of the robbery: "It happened in the early moning of 9 December 1897, not far from Pilgrim’s Rest on top of a steep hill knows as Poniesnek.

It was still early and a thick mist covered the mountains as the mule-drawn coach slowly wound its way uphill.

[check quotation syntax]"The robbers then unharnessed the mules, jumped on their horses and disappeared in the mist.

[check quotation syntax]"The mining commissioner JJ Joubert arrived some time later with a number of armed men.