Not only are people reporting that the appearance of the trees different, they are also speculating whether the trees might be falling over due to bugs chewing away at them.
Spokesperson for City Parks and Zoo, Jenny Moodley, however, cleared up the matter and said the delayed rains, preceded by the dry spell which was compounded by stormy weather resulted in a number of uprooted trees being reported in the City of Joburg and possibly affected the look and appearance of some of the trees.
“Fortunately, there were no fatalities, however, some residents did experience damage to private property. Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo diligently responded to all requests where trees were found to be obstructing traffic,” explained Moodley.
She also highlighted that three, 24-hour standby teams are in place to ensure pedestrian or motor vehicle access is not compromised during a tree fall. In terms of their service delivery standards, branches will be moved within 14 days and Moodley pleaded with residents to be patient.
She also shared that the toppling trees would not result in the end of Joburg’s man-made forest. “There are over 10 million trees in the City, and while there is no cause for concern of the city losing its tree canopies from these incidents – it is important to urge residents to assist in protecting the valuable tree-lined streets of Joburg by increasing the planting of new trees in private spaces to replace the aging tree cover found in the city.”
Moodley also mentioned that Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo is focusing on the planting of food-bearing trees to combat food security concerns stemming from the anticipated extreme weather patterns such as drought and flooding.
“Fruit trees attract wildlife and ensure that all residents have access to a more vibrant and healthy environment,” Moodley concluded.
Details: Joburg Connect call centre 011 375 5555; trees@jhbcityparks.co
