Roy says the town council has not in 27 years pruned any trees in the area, but late last month, he noted municipal workers pruning and cutting trees left, right and centre. In the process, the legacy left by his dying mother was almost destroyed.

According to sub clause 6.1 of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) by-laws for planting, pruning, removal and treatment of street trees, branches from trees on private properties overhanging the sidewalk, or into overhead power lines, may be pruned back to the boundary at the cost of the town council.

Roy says he has no problem with the municipal by-laws, but the issue he has is the fact that while cutting down his tree, municipal workers claimed its branches were obstructing overhanging power lines – lines does not not even exist in the area!

“How could the municipality reimburse me if the tree dies? It has a lot of sentimental value to our family, because it was my mother’s last gift to us,” he said.

During a meeting at his house on June 11, delegates from Nigel Town Council confirmed they will investigate the matter and that they will revert back to him soon with a feasible solution. Meanwhile, Roy expressed his hope that the tree will survive winter and that it will grow back to its former glory, in order for his family to continue looking upon his mother’s legacy.