CoE donates ten shade trees to Mogobeng Primary School
“We have a mixture of indigenous trees The one we planted today is the tree of the year, with the botanical name dais cotinifolia, with its common name is a pom tree.”
Mogobeng Primary School (MPS) learners took part in a thrilling exercise of learning to plant trees, at 131 Sophangisa Street, Nlhapo Section, Katlehong, on September 23.
The Arbor Day programme saw the Department of Environmental Resource and Waste Management (DERWM) partner with the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) in the City of Ekurhuleni to donate shade-creating trees.
At least ten trees were planted on the day and the event was led by MMC for DERWM André Du Plessis, who demonstrated the procedure to the children.
Du Plessis said this is part of the country’s million tree program, adding that a thousand trees will be donated in Ekurhuleni. The city will donate them to various schools.
“We have a mixture of indigenous trees. The one we planted today is the tree of the year, with the botanical name Dais cotinifolia, with its common name a pompom tree. It makes a beautiful pink flower which looks like cotton,” said Du Plessis.
“The other trees are some fruit trees and white stinkwood, all indigenous.”
He said some of the trees will be in public spaces, but they prefer rolling them out in schools because it is difficult to maintain them in public parks.
Ekurhuleni does not have the resources to go and water the newly planted trees.
“We have an ‘adopt-a-park’ programme where we are asking communities, businesses, CPF and other organisations to adopt that park. Then they can plant the trees and maintain them.”
The learners were excited to be part of the programme they promised water and maintain the trees.
