April 11, 2007
By George Matlala
THE City's plan to plant thousands of trees across Soweto has received a massive financial boost from the governments of Norway and Denmark and the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
The two governments and the union yesterday signed a contract with Johannesburg at the launch of the 2010 Mapetla Project in Soweto. The planting of trees in Mapetla forms part of the ambitious City project to green Soweto. Already dozens of trees have been planted as part of the ongoing Greening of Soweto Legacy Project. Signing the contract signified a commitment by the Scandinavian governments and the union to pour millions of rands into the programme.
Greening of Soweto, spearheaded by Johannesburg City Parks and the World Conservation Union, is aimed at beautifying the township ahead of the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. Executive Mayor Amos Masondo launched the project in September 2006.
Under it, more than 300 000 trees will be planted in Soweto's streets and parks over the next four years and in his 2006 budget, Masondo announced that the project would receive R7,6-million.
Employees of City Parks working hard to turn Soweto green
"Planting of trees is a great effort. The project will benefit the people of Soweto," said Erik Solheim, the Norwegian minister of international development. Speaking at the event, Solheim said the world saw Soweto as a symbol of pride, a place where human beings stood up to the wrongs of apartheid.
Residents were also responsible for ensuring that the project was a success, he said, adding that hosting the 2010 world cup showed that although the country was struggling, there was prosperity.
According to the IUCN, Greening of Soweto would not only beautify and soften the township's landscape, but would also create public spaces that would be a source of pride and joy for the township's residents.
"Soweto will no doubt attract thousands of tourists during the 2010 world cup," said Valli Moosa, the IUCN president and the former minister of environmental affairs and tourism. He called on local and foreign donors to support the project.
Soweto is one of South Africa's most important places of historical and social significance. Under the National Party government, the township was neglected and it acquired a reputation as dusty and dry.
Speaking on behalf of the City, the member of the mayoral committee for environment, Prema Naidoo, said, "Only by planting tree by tree, street by street, day by day, will we collectively bridge the green divide in Soweto."
Naidoo said planting trees in Soweto would help to bridge the "greening gap" between the township and Joburg's northern suburbs.
Dan Phadi, Soweto's ward 16 councillor, said residents were responsible for ensuring that the trees would grow to symbolise all that they had conquered in the quest to create a healthy nation. He pledged that Sowetans would "always nurture, respect and value these trees, as our own".
Following the formalities, Solheim, Moosa and the City's leadership planted a tree to symbolise their commitment to the project. They also unveiled a plaque to commemorate the Greening of Soweto Legacy Project.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
