Stoep Stories No 22

MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS

STOEP STORIES - TALES FROM THE KAROO
Published by the Graaff-Reinet Heritage Society 

The Commonage

Regulation 73 gave each citizen the right to graze animals on the Commonage which covered a huge area about 50 000 acres. Regulation 75 made permits necessary and butchers were allowed to keep up to 150 sheep on the Commonage. However they abused the right keeping animals in kraals in the town and driving almost 6 000 sheep and goats every morning and every evening to and from the Commonage. Since householders also followed this procedure the number of animals passing twice daily through the streets could be doubled of trebled!

The burgers were tough but even they must have found the smell the noise the confusion and the dust very hard to bear!