History

Historical development
Rondevlei Nature Reserve was established on 1 January 1952 as the Rondevlei Wild bird Sanctuary. Despite the fact that the surroundings of the vlei were at that time semi-rural,

ornithologists and other bird lovers had been concerned about the rapid decline in the numbers of birds associated with the vleis of the area. With the cooperation of the then Cape Divisional Council, now Cape Metropolitan Council, the sanctuary was established to conserve a sample of this rich habitat for posterity. In 1997, management was taken over by the South Peninsula Municipality, and the reserve is now part of the City of Cape Town!

Before the fence was erected around the reserve, the area had been used by the local residents as a place to graze horses and cattle, for woodcutting, the picking of flowers, and recreation. The fauna had been constantly disturbed by those who robbed nests, trapped birds, speared fish, and illegally snared animals. The area was also extensively covered with alien vegetation and was frequented by stray dogs.

Originally the reserve consisted of the vlei plus a narrow margin of land, with a total area of 100 ha. In 1963, two small areas were added. In 1987, after considerable debate with the housing committee of the Cape Town City Council, a further 98 ha of dunes and seasonal wetlands to the south of the vlei were made available to the reserve. Fencing and incorporation of this portion of the reserve took place in 1995.

Soon after 1952, rapid urban development of the surrounding land began. Contrary to original plans, a number of canals built to drain these predominantly sub-economic housing developments were led directly into the vlei. In 1958, to prevent flooding of the built-up areas, the level of Rondevlei was permanently lowered by the construction of a weir at the south-eastern end of the vlei.