A wild olive tree grown from a seed planted by Nelson Mandela nearly two decades ago continues to serve as a symbol of heritage, environmental stewardship and legacy at Steyn City.

A visit by Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts and Leading Like Mandela Institute CEO Liaqat Azam to Mandela Park at Steyn City coincided with Heritage Day celebrations.

In 2015, Graça Machel planted a sapling grown from a seed sown by her late husband, former President Nelson Mandela, during his visit to the site in 2007 for a sod-turning ceremony. The sapling has grown into an established wild olive tree surrounded by indigenous parkland.

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The visit forms part of preparations for a national campaign to plant 10m trees on Heritage Day under the Presidential 100 Billion Trees Programme. The initiative aims to mobilise communities, businesses, government and civil society to contribute to national greening efforts and help mitigate climate change.

According to the department, the campaign follows the planting of 1 303 930 trees across the country on Heritage Day last year, surpassing the target of one million.

Swarts said: “As we face the growing impacts of climate change, planting and protecting trees has never been more important. We are grateful to Steyn City for welcoming us to this site of such significance and for supporting the national call to plant trees and build a greener, more resilient South Africa.”

Azam spoke of the importance of trees not only in providing shade and supporting food security, but also as powerful symbols of unity and shared humanity. Drawing a parallel between the diversity of South Africa and the interconnectedness of trees, he reflected on Mandela’s words that ‘we are still all branches on the same tree of humanity’.

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Steyn City Properties CEO Steven Louw said the development’s commitment to greening had continued over the past decade, with approximately one million indigenous trees and shrubs planted across the estate.

“This remarkable tree provides a tangible link to Nelson Mandela and our late founder, Douw Steyn,” said Louw.

The company also recently planted a further 75 established trees throughout its golf course.

Its environmental initiatives extend beyond the estate into neighbouring Diepsloot, where its Growzone produces fruit and vegetables to support the nutritional needs of about 3 300 children attending 51 early childhood development centres each day.

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