EDITOR – I read in last week’s Southlands Sun that eThekwini Parks department is embarking on a project to rid the area close to the civic centre of its mango trees.
I would like to remind the department that the mango trees have been there before Yellowwood Park township was formed, and were probably planted by the Stainbank family for food and export, for mango trees can still bear fruit after 300 years and to cut them down would be a sin.
I have checked the Invasive Alien Plants book by Wessa KZN and online www.invasives.org.za and nowhere does it state these beautiful trees must be destroyed.
They look stunning, give much-needed shade around the civic centre, feed the birds and animals and lucky passersby enjoy their fruit when in season, and recently, a wedding was held under their branches.
I agree that no more should be planted, but plead that they not destroy the ones that are there.
Where do we stop in our beautiful country?
Will we then chop down all the jacarandas, oak trees, flamboyants and so on?
Let them live, they are part of our history.
DAVE JOSEPH
