Fourways is about to get a lot greener.

After months of delays, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) has finally begun ground preparations for the long-awaited tree-planting initiative along Winnie Mandela Drive, stretching from Uranium Road to the N14.

The project, which forms part of the city’s broader Arbor month programme, will see 3 000 trees planted, in partnership with local businesses, community members, and the Fourways Improvement District.

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City Parks teams were spotted recently digging holes along the route in preparation for the official planting day on November 6.
Ward 94 councillor David Foley said he was thrilled to see progress after the initial rollout was postponed earlier this year. “We are turning Fourways green as part of the Fourways Improvement District.”

The initiative was initially scheduled to take place in September, in line with Arbor month, but was delayed while awaiting final approval from the Gauteng Roads and Transport Department. Foley said he is pleased to finally see the work begin.

The tree species being planted include:
• Syzygium paniculatum (Brush Cherry),
• Ceratonia siliqua (Carob Tree),
• Harpephyllum caffrum (Wild Plum),
• Searsia pendulina (White Karee), and
• Combretum erythrophyllum (River Bushwillow).

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“Trees are incredible purifiers of the atmosphere, especially in a city plagued with traffic congestion and the illegal burning of chemical and poisonous substances,” said Noeleen Mattera, from City Parks, in a media statement.

“Indigenous trees reduce greenhouse gases, support biodiversity, and make a city, like Johannesburg, a green haven for its residents.”

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