The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Maggie Sotyu will launch National Arbor Month campaign on 01 September 2021 in Richards Bay, uMhlathuze Local Municipality. 

This year’s National Arbor Month will be coordinated under the theme: “Forest Restoration: A path to recovery and well-being”. The theme is adopted from the United Nations Collaborative Partnership on Forests and is congruent to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for the planting of ten million trees, for the next five years in South Africa.  

The Deputy Minister is expected to officiate the tree planting activities in the uMhlathuze area ahead of the National Arbor City Awards ceremony, where cities and towns that have embraced greening initiatives in their programmes will be recognised and rewarded. The awards are sponsored by Total SA, and promote the greening of cities and towns in South Africa. 

The Deputy Minister will be joined by the Mayor of King Cetshwayo District Municipality: Cllr Lindokuhle Phungula and Mayor of City of uMhlathuze Municipality: Cllr Mduduzi Mhlongo.

Members of the media invited to attend and cover the event as per the details below:

Part 1              Tree Planting

Date:               Wednesday, 01 September 2021

Venue:            House number 11658, Road 7B Dumisani Makhaye Village Empangeni - Ward 24

Time:               09:30

Visit to Waste Pick Up site in Dumisani Makhaye Village (Zone for Human Settlement)

Time:              10:30

Part 2           Public Park - Tree Planting.

Venue:          Mthombothi Street (erf 396) Esikhaleni

Time:             11:15 

Part 3           Unveiling of the Covid-19 remembrance plaque

Venue:           Richards Bay cemetery - Erf 15825 Helium Height Street Alton, Richards Bay

Time:             11:50 

Part 4           Arbor City Awards Ceremony

Venue:           City of uMhlathuze Civic Centre, Richards Bay

Time:             12:30

To RSVP, contact Ernest Mulibana on 082 263 7372 / emulibana@environment.gov.za   

For media queries contact Albi Modise on 083 490 2871 

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, FISHERIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT