Protected tree species fall victim to ‘illegal’ pruning in Centurion

Residents are concerned that Tshwane metro is sending contractors to trim trees and high branches to avoid contact with power lines, but this has in fact now damaged the growth potential of the trees.

And to make matters worse loads of dry branches are being left on the sidewalks and streets.

This now creates a potential security issue, not to mention the fact that protected tree species have been illegally pruned.

Mariaan Sieberhagen spoke to Pretoria Rekord and emphasised that the metro has caused irreparable damage to the area’s greenery.

“My neighbour’s 50-year-old real yellowwood tree was decimated recently. It is illegal to prune or cut down these trees as they have been declared protected species and are also the national tree of South Africa,” she explained.

Ward councillor of Doringkloof, Gert Visser told Pretoria Rekord after some investigation it was found that the trees were in fact butchered which is ‘simply unacceptable”.

“Tree branches at overhead power lines cause power interruption during a thunderstorm hence the importance of pro-active maintenance in order to reduce the risk of power outages.

“It is evident that some of the appointed contractors do not have the required pruning skills and knowledge. This unfortunate incident has been escalated for urgent and immediate intervention to prevent it from happening in future,” he said.

“My biggest concern is the protected tree species that grow in abundance here. We just don’t want this to go any further and happen anywhere else,” Sieberhagen said.

The metro had yet to comment by the time of publication.