Ward 38 community stakeholders in Nyanga planted trees near Masincedane Clinic along Memani Street on Tuesday 14 November to promote nature conservation.
The trees were donated by the City of Cape Town.
At least three trees were planted on site and the rest are to be planted during the week at Nceba Park in New Crossroads.
Ward councillor Suzanne Zumana described the initiative as a plan to promote healthy living. She said they will plant the trees in strategic areas within the ward.
“The first three trees we decided to plant along the fence of Masincedane Clinic in KTC to avoid people discarding rubbish there. There’s an illegal dumping site along the clinic. We want people to stop dumping rubbish here. This is a clinic where sick people are expected to get service. It (the clinic) is supposed to stay clean all the time. Not only inside but also outside the premises,” said Zumana.
She stated that it is everybody’s business to ensure the environment stays clean.
KTC SANCO committee member Lumkile Msila said having trees in the communities is vital as they help us survive.
“We need each other. People need oxygen from the trees to breathe and the trees need carbon dioxide to survive.
“We don’t need oxygen only, we also need shade when it is hot,” said Msila. He stated that the worse scenario is that they had already cleaned the part that they were going to plant trees in, but when they are arrived in the morning rubbish had been dumped again.
He stated that there is a lack of knowledge particularly in black communities about the environment.
He said it is high time for communities to develop and uplift their areas.