Francis Makgatho, Mogale City Local Municipality Executive Mayor, also a nature enthusiast, planted more than 30 trees at Kagiso One in Ward 15 in celebration of the 2020 Arbor Month.
He regards this as an opportune time for all South Africans to plant indigenous trees as a practical and symbolic gesture of sustainable environmental management. The initiative coincided with Heritage Month and is in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), as the custodian of forestry in South Africa.
Makgatho said the initiative is aimed at involving civil society, the private sector, and non-governmental and community-based organisations in greening their communities.
He added that the City is in the process of rolling out a Greening programme that will see the entire City and its townships being greened, and the Regional Park in Kagiso Extension 8 being developed and extended.
The greening programme is geared at beautifying our city and communities. It is an integrated approach to planting, caring for and managing all vegetation in urban and rural areas to secure multiple benefits for communities and the entire city of Mogale.
“It is therefore important for the public to join hands with partners in local government and community-based organisations.”
Arbor Day celebrations seek to highlight the opportunity for sustainable environmental, social and economic development, community participation, poverty alleviation and job creation in forestry, thereby contributing towards growth, development and a better life for all.
“Trees play an important role in our lives as they are a source of life. They provide us with oxygen and shade on a sunny day. Trees also serve as a shield during stormy seasons, and they prevent soil erosion.
It is therefore very important for us to continue planting as many trees as possible and to educate each other about the significance of having trees in our environment,” Makgatho explained.
Saki Mangole, the Ward 15 councillor added, “We are hosting this worthy event under very difficult circumstances, where Covid-19 is well upon us. We want to urge our community members to make sure that we look after these trees as they play an important role in our lives.”
Accompanying the executive mayor were Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMCs), councillors Norman Sedumedi, Betty Mdlane and Francinah Chohledi. Councillor Chohledi is responsible for the Integrated Environmental Department (DIEM) and she presided over the programme.
