September 2, 2004
By Ndaba Dlamini
COINCIDING with World Arbor Week from 1 to 7 September, Siyathuthuka, a City Parks initiative to encourage a cleaner and greener environment, was launched by the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Buyelwa Sonjica, at Umcweba Park in Phiri, Soweto, on Tuesday 31 August.
Johannesburg's executive mayor Amos Masondo, representatives from project partners Total South Africa and Food and Trees for Africa Organisation, and residents of Ward 15 (Sinoane and Phiri), attended the joyful ceremony, which included dancers from Sibongile Primary School presenting a musical tribute to the environment entitled, "Without trees, our lives would be different".
Planting trees in Soweto
Managing Director of City Parks, Luther Williamson, commended Sinoane and Phiri residents for their part in greening Soweto: "The Ward 15 community has taken the front seat to create a beautiful environment for themselves. This is manifest in the number of volunteers who are taking part in this project."
Over 2 500 people around Johannesburg have so far been trained in planting trees and cleaning up their areas as part of the Siyathuthuka Project.
Masondo said Arbor Week was not just about planting trees, but "getting all South Africans to plant indigenous trees" in private gardens, municipal land and other public places. "This is the time of the year to encourage schools to improve the beauty of our environment and advocate for a green future," he said.
Masondo was nostalgic: "I remember during my young days, when I lived in Soweto, there were apricot and peach trees in our yard. Now the trees are gone. I appeal to parents not to cut down trees."
He also highlighted the huge difference between the north and south of the city. "When you are up there in an aeroplane, the difference is so stark. You can see all the rooftops in Soweto whilst the north of the city is covered in a beautiful green blanket. We need to take the greening of Soweto seriously in order to improve the quality of life of our people."
Most of Johannesburg's 1,5-million officially planted trees are found in the northern part of the city, and according to Williamson, are the city's second largest natural resource after gold.
Masondo's words were echoed by schoolboy Lusanda Mafenuka, who gave a Xhosa poetry performance highlighting the theme of Arbor Week, "Trees are our heritage".
Looking to the future, Sonjica said: "This is a celebration of the advent of spring. The 'northern and southern green' divide our society and this project and spring should help unite us."
After the ceremony, Sonjica and Masondo planted trees donated by Food and Trees for Africa at Umcweba Park.
Celebrations to mark Arbor Week will take place across Johannesburg. The City's Region 8 Inner City Regeneration Programme and Hillbrow community planted indigenous trees at the Windybrow Theatre and Rand Clinic on Wednesday, 1 September and City Parks donated 25 trees to be planted on the day, with Johannesburg Water donated T-shirts for the volunteers.
The Zoo Lake Users Committee celebrated Arbor Week at the lake on Wednesday, with trees of the year for 2004 - the white and mountain syringa - being planted.
On Saturday, 4 September, City Parks, in partnership Region 11, Johannesburg Water and the Lenasia South Environment Care Group, will celebrate Arbor Week on Wimbledon Street.
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