Paulshof rejoices as Lantana is removed
PAULSHOF - Intensive Lantana plant has been chopped in Rietfontein Reserve and Paulshof residents packed their thanks into lunch for the hard workers.
Over three days, Working for Water, a national programme administered by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and in partnership with the Department of Environmental Affairs, among other departments, worked to chop the Lantana around the 25 hectare reserve. Working for Water helps to remove alien invasive plants in the nine provinces.
On the final day over a hundred Working for Water workers put their hands to the tough work. They said the plants made them very itchy.
John Kruger of Johannesburg City Parks Ecosystem Department explained that the Working for Water Programme provided local communities with employment opportunities. He said the Working for Water workers who were cutting Lantana from the reserve were from Alexandra Township.
Kruger said in the coming months, Working for Water would return to the reserve to spray the Lantana roots with environmentally-safe herbicides to ensure it does not grow again in the reserve.
On the workers’ last day in the reserve on 21 August, Paulshof residential complex Forest Lodge bought lunch for the workers.
Jackie O’Donovan of Forest Lodge handed over sandwich rolls and fruit and as the workers emerged from the dense shrubbery for their lunch break, they rejoiced at the treat.
Paulshof resident Kerry Mawson thanked Working for Water and Johannesburg City Parks for the large turnout of workers and for their hard work.
