Cycads initially dug up in April 2017 at the Tzaneen Post Office remain laying on bare soils, left to decay.
At the time, Tzaneen Post Office manager, Matome Mogobodja, was unfamiliar with the plant and was reported to be ‘cleaning up the area’.
“I did not know that they were cycads. I do not know what type of plants they are,” Mogobodja said at the time.
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The Herald was informed that they were planning to plant a garden in place of the cycad plants. Until this day, there seems to be no movement on this supposed garden, with the dug up cycads laying amongst bare soils.
When questioned last year during a follow up in August, Mogobodja stated that the matter had been passed on to Environmental Affairs and he was not allowed to discuss the matter with the press.
Plant enthusiasts are expressing their horror in seeing these beautiful specimens left to rot, nine months after they were initially, brutally dug up with picks.
It is reported that the plants at the Post Office are the Modjadji Cycad (Encephalartos transvenosus).
All Encephalartos cycad species are protected in South Africa and require permits for one to be in possession of them.
Permits are also required to remove such plants.
According to the 2012 Government Gazette named, ‘Prohibition of trade in certain Encephalartos (cycad) species’, it is prohibited to; collect, pluck, uproot or destroy; receive, donate, accept, acquire or dispose of; or move or translocate wild specimens. However, exemptions can be made for conservation or enforcement purposes.
According to local cycad enthusiast, Heidi Hanaczach-Kruger, it may not be too late to save this beautiful plant.
Translocation of cycads have shown relative success in the past.
We received a report about a theft of cycads from the Mariepskop mountains near Hoedspruit that occurred a few years ago, where the plants were later confiscated and re-planted in a safe location.
Years later, the plants are showing relative success after the translocation effort.
So it could be possible therefore to replant these cycads in a place where they can be respected and enjoyed.
In order to translocate the cycads, the owner of the plants will need to apply for a permit. In this case, we are informed that the owner of the cycads is Tzaneen Municipality.
The Herald team are in discussion with the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) and the Municipality in order to hopefully get the ball rolling on this.
Watch this space…
