Lesedi Local Municipality was presented with 20 fruit trees on October 20.
People in attendance during the hand-over ceremony included Lesedi Local Municipality Executive Mayor Mluleki Nkosi, Miss Earth SA 2022 Ziphozethu Sithebe, ward councillor Fanie Khumalo, Jabulani Marwa and Dr Nomphomelelo Khawula.
Nkosi welcomed everyone and extended a special thank you to Sithebe who donated the trees.
Nkosi said, “The trees will surely be welcomed in Ratanda. Trees are an asset that we need to look after.
“The eco-system of the area will be boosted by the new trees and help to provide oxygen.”
Sithebe said, “The purpose is to help alleviate poverty in the area by assisting food security in the Lesedi area.
“It will help lighten the poverty, especially since Covid-19 when a lot of people lost any form of income.
“We all need to cultivate a habit of supporting each other at all times. If someone is struggling, we need to step in and help.”
Nkosi welcomed the donation. “It is much appreciated, the trees will be planted and nurtured. We need to cultivate backyard gardens to grow food and produce food for the community.
“That way the community can be self-sustaining and look after themselves and it is also a way to earn an income.”
After the meeting, everyone went to Ratanda Ext Seven where the 20 trees were planted.
There are already vegetables growing in the garden. The vegetable garden was established in 2020 during Covid-19.
Khumalo said, “The fruit trees were planted in the same garden. The trees will be nurtured where they can produce shade, secondly, it will produce fruit for the community and thirdly the community will be able to earn an income with the sale of the fruit.”
Sithebe will be representing South Africa and participating in the Miss Earth Pageant in November in the Philippines.
