Letter: Pruning of municipal trees is illegal
This resident is desperate to protect the ecosystem in town.
A concerned neighbour writes, per email:
I live on Wenden Avenue. Over the last, I would say two years, two residents have been massacring our trees.
Now, from what I managed to find out on the internet, this is illegal because they are municipal trees and provide much-needed shade in the unrelenting heat.
I do not wish to cause a fight with my neighbour because one of the family members is allergic to bees, and when the trees are flowering, they do attract bees, but then why not just cut the buds? Why massacre the trees without consulting anyone?
I am desperate because there is such little nature in Brakpan to enjoy.
Editor’s note: According to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality by-laws for the planting, pruning, removal and treatment of street trees (2002), sections 6.3, 6.4, 6.6 and 6.9, trees planted on a sidewalk by a member of the public become the property and responsibility of the metro.
Trees under the metro’s jurisdiction that are damaged by a member of the public will result in prosecution. A community consultation process will occur after an application to remove a tree.
However, no tree may be pruned or removed except by the department or a contractor appointed by the executive director.
Section 7.2 also states that wherever trees under the jurisdiction of the metro have to be replaced because of damage caused by a member of the public, the replacement value of the tree becomes the responsibility of that member and will be determined using the Helliwell System of Tree Evaluation.
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This system allocates point scores to the tree based on its size, age, life expectancy and suitability to the area. These points are then converted to a monetary value that becomes payable by the culprit responsible for the need for replacement.
You can submit requests to trim trees through the MyCoE app by going to the complaints tab, scrolling down to the Environmental Resources Management section, clicking on the maintenance option, selecting the area of the trees you want to be trimmed on the provided map, and asking for the trees on the street to be trimmed in the description box.
Requests to remove trees must be in writing and directed to the executive director of the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.
You can also call the Brakpan Customer Care Centre on 011 999 8068/3694/7900.
