THE 2023 NATIONAL ARBOR CITY AWARDS WINNER IS… CITY OF POLOKWANE

During Arbor week Polokwane Local Municipality lifted the trophy at the 2023 National Arbor City Awards, pipping runners up Stellenbosch and Kouga Municipalities to grab the coveted trophy of overall winner.

The launch of Arbor Week and the Awards ceremony was hosted by the Ministry for Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), and presided over by Deputy Minister Makhotso Sotyu under the theme “Forests and Health,” as adopted by the United Nations Collaborative Partnerships on Forests.

Speaking at the launch which was held at Fusion Boutique Hotel in Polokwane on the 7th September, the Deputy Minister said, “The greening of the built environment by planting trees is continuous work that needs everyone’s participation and support.”

“During this week we shall be honouring municipalities that have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the Ten Million Trees Programme as well as schools that have initiated and implemented successful greening projects,” said the Deputy Minister.

The introduction of the Million Trees Programme in 2007 commenced an initiative that brought different stakeholders in the greening space together to collaborate and plant 1 million trees annually. Because of the success of the collaborations, all targets were met and exceeded, and the President was motivated to double the annual target to 10 million trees in the next five years!

On receiving the award, Polokwane Executive Mayor Councillor Makoro John Mpe said, “For years now, Polokwane Municipality has always been excelling in greening and cleaning spaces within its jurisdiction. The award serves as testimony that the municipality gives prominence to tree planting and waste management. The award is not the end of it, but a source of encouragement to continue to do more.”

Executive Mayor Mpe said although there was one individual winner, it is a recognition of the work done by the municipal employees wherever they are: cleaning streets, clearing parks, planting trees along the roads for the improvement of the Polokwane Municipality, and the livelihoods of its people.

Walter Matumba, an employee of Polokwane, was awarded a certificate for outstanding achievement by the DFFE.

The Polokwane Municipality was also recognised for its innovative work. They converted an open space, Skotipola park which used to be an illegal dumping area. The area was cleared of existing rubble and other waste material and developed into a recreational park. The fencing was upgraded, new lawn was planted, walkways were paved, play equipment for children was constructed, as well an outdoor gym were installed. The current conditions of the park encourage healthy living, work-out, and play.

Councillor Mpe continued also emphasised that the award also benefitted citizens of Polokwane. “As a winner the DFFE has allocated us 2000 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) beneficiaries who will assist the municipality with environmental work on a 12-month contract. The allocation includes a stipend plus UIF and workman’s compensation in case they get injured at work – the cost being covered by the DFFE,” stated Mpe.

How the EPWP- Polokwane collaboration works

The Expanded Public Works Programme provides incentives for communities who are recruited to undertake tree planting activities. The delivery of housing for the underprivileged usually requires large tracts of land to be allocated for building “RDP” houses.

Trees and other vegetation are normally removed during construction leaving the area barren and there is a need to plant trees in those areas particularly on newly developed areas that are already occupied. This initiative contributes immensely to greening in the country.

With the high unemployment rate among the youth in townships, employing the EPWP programme and the youth employment service will not only speed up delivery, but will also address issues of unemployment and provide a livelihood to the youth in these respective communities. It also alleviates the financial burden on municipalities whose environmental and parks management budgets are already stretched.

Beautifying barren spaces

As part of the launch of Arbor Week, Deputy Minister Makhotso Sotyu took part in tree planting activities around the municipality. Trees were planted at Nirvana Primary School and over 100 fruit trees were donated to households and planted around the city.

The Executive Mayor highlighted that greening the municipality also goes hand-in-hand with water preservation – so it should not be done in isolation. “Polokwane is in a water-scarce part of the Limpopo province so we need to preserve all the water we can get. We must use it sparingly and avoid wastage through leaks,” the Executive Mayor explains.

Nurturing our future

The Executive Mayor concluded, “Whilst September is Arbor Week, it is also Heritage Month and an opportune time to call on all South Africans to plant indigenous trees and to nurture them and our future.” One of the areas of Limpopo’s heritage is the oldest, largest and culturally significant Sagole Baobab Tree.

Leaving a legacy of greening

The Executive Mayor made special mention of the role of the youth in greening the municipality.

“We are also proud of Monyong Secondary School here in the municipality which was 2nd Runner Up in the school’s category. This should encourage not just them but other schools to take up the challenge of saving the environment. It is the youth’s future legacy.” 