| Rondebosch Common | |
|---|---|
 Gazania flowers in spring on Rondebosch Common. | |
 Map ofCape Town | |
| Location | Cape Town,South Africa |
| Coordinates | 33°57′20″S18°29′00″E / 33.95556°S 18.48333°E /-33.95556; 18.48333 |
| Area | 40 hectares (100 acres) |
| Established | 1961; 64 years ago (1961) |
Rondebosch Common is an opencommon of about 40 hectares (100 acres) inRondebosch,Cape Town inSouth Africa. A common is defined as "a piece of open land for public use, esp. in a village or town". It contains one of the few surviving pockets of thecritically endangered “Cape Flats Sand Fynbos” vegetation type, which exists nowhere else in the world.[1]
Rondebosch Common is aNational Monument and an important conservation area for the critically endangeredCape Flats Sand Fynbos vegetation. This type offynbos exists only inCape Town, and has becomecritically endangered due to the urban development which has covered most of theCape Flats. The common also conserves a few patches ofRenosterveld and aseasonal wetland, giving it a hugely varied biodiversity for such a small area. Of the hundreds of plant species that occur here, at least nine are on theRed Data List. This stretch of land also protects 110 species of birds, as well as small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. The local biodiversity is threatened by invasive plants such asKikuyu grass.[2] A portion of the common is also covered by introduced stone pines (Pinus pinea).
In the past, Rondebosch Common was used as a military camp (hence the name ofCamp Ground Road, which borders the common on the west). In 1805, the local Dutch farmers rallied here before the decisiveBattle of Blaauwberg, and troops were regularly stationed here, even up until theSecond World War. The open area has steadily decreased over time, as piece after piece was taken for housing, so that today only 40 hectares remain.The remaining land was proclaimed aNational Monument in 1961, and today it is used as a recreational area for the surrounding communities.[3]
On January 27, 2012, 42 members of a group called "Take back the Commons" were arrested by theSouth African Police Service for holding what thecity labelled as an illegal gathering on and near the common.[4] Supporters of the protest said the city was manipulating theRegulation of Gatherings Act and blamed MayorPatricia de Lille for illegally authorising the use of excessive force.[5][6][7]
