An estimated 6,000 trees were planted across the country, to mark National Arbor Month, starting from Tuesday.
Ceremonies took place at different locations around the country, including Freedom Park in Pretoria and the Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute in the Eastern Cape.
Bernice Swarts, Deputy Minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), is expected to lead an aggressive planting of 10 million trees on Heritage Day (September 24, 2026), as part of the Presidential One Billion Trees Programme.
Johannesburg
The Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) is calling residents, schools, businesses and community groups to get involved in tree-planting initiatives throughout September.
JCPZ, the entity at the forefront of greening the City of Johannesburg, believes that every tree planted is an investment in the future.
So says Thanduxolo Mendrew, Managing Director at City Parks and Zoo, “trees are natural environmental champions. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, filter pollutants from the air and help improve the quality of life in urban areas. This is particularly important in a bustling city like Joburg, where traffic congestion and illegal burning of chemical and other harmful substances can contribute to air pollution.”
Mendrew also said the value of trees goes far beyond clean air and beautiful streets.
eThekwini
The eThekwini Municipality launched the National Clean-Up Month at KwaMashu Community Hall in Section L, to promote responsible waste management, environmental stewardship, and active community participation across the region.
Under the theme “It Starts With Me,” the launch brought together municipal officials, local residents, and key stakeholders to drive collective action towards creating cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environments.
This project forms part of the City’s broader National Clean-Up Month campaign.
Throughout September, eThekwini Municipality said it would execute clean-up, greening, educational, and community mobilisation initiatives across the metro.
Residents and business owners are urged to take individual responsibility by disposing of waste correctly, refraining from littering and illegal dumping, and initiating or participating in local clean-up efforts.
Cape Town
The City’s Adopt-a-Tree Programme kicked off in August, such as the Recreation and Parks Department canopy campaigns, aiming to plant over 1,300 trees across local communities through winter and Arbor Month.
Plantings were at Muizenberg Park with community groups.
Picture supplied by eThekwini Municipality