Cycad saga finally has a happy ending
"Kindly note that the above-mentioned cycad has been safely relocated to Modjadji Nursery (Departmental facility) on 07/02/2018."
The plant uprooted ten months ago and since left to rot at the Tzaneen Post Office was finally removed on Wednesday, February 7 and was taken to the Modjadji Nursery, a LEDET departmental facility.
Letaba Herald first reported on the issue back in April 2017 when the Tzaneen Post Office manager, Matome Mogobodja, was reported to be ‘cleaning up the area’ and used pick axes to cut and uproot the plants.
The Herald was informed that they were planning to plant a garden in place of the cycad plants.
Read:Â TZANEEN: Jare oue broodbome bloot uitgekap-inwoners woedend
A follow up in August last year saw no development and no sign of the planned garden. Only the protected plant left to decay.
Another follow up in January saw largely the same status. Rotting cycad, no garden!
Local cycad enthusiast, Heidi Hanaczach-Kruger, believed that it was still not too late to save the plant.
After going to print, the Herald was informed of a local resident’s attempt to save the cycad.
Ansie van der Merwe applied for a permit to remove the cycad plant, which was granted by LEDET.
Read:Â Protected cycads left to rot: The full story
The permit read, “Mrs A.S Van Der Merwe approached the Department (ECE Mopani) with a letter to request to remove the cycads on her own cost for rehabilitation process.”
It went on to read, “The cycads are lying down at post office dying as the Department was not able to remove all of them for rehabilitation because of their heavy weight and also lack of resources.”
The permit was issued on 20 September 2017 and Mrs van der Merwe was willing to remove the plant entirely at her own cost.
Next she needed a transportation permit.
The transport permit was applied for on 22 September 2017 and the receipt of which stated, “You will be informed in writing about the outcome of your application within Thirty (30) working days from the day the application was received.”
Letaba Herald met with Mrs van der Merwe on 25 January 2018 and she had still not received an outcome from the transport application.
Herald followed up on multiple occasions with LEDET and finally received the following on Wednesday, 21 February, “Kindly note that the above-mentioned cycad has been safely relocated to Modjadji Nursery (Departmental facility) on 07/02/2018.”
Herald contacted the manager of the nursery and received photos of the cycad, standing tall and proud.
It still remains to be seen as to whether the plant will survive but at least it is in a place where it can be nurtured, respected and given the best possible chance.
