9 June 2005

By Clifford Mogotsi

A Mogale City community has won big with the national lottery.

The National Lottery Development Trust Fund, together with Food and Trees for Africa, donated 500 fruit trees to the community of Lewisham in Kagiso 1.

This follows last year's deal between the fund and Food and Trees for Africa in which the fund donated not "thata mamillion", but R800 000 to promote greener cities across South Africa.

So far 70 000 trees have been planted countrywide, according to Jeunese Park, Food and Trees for Africa's chief executive.

Now it was Mogale City's turn to reap the benefits. Speaker after speaker at the event at the Kagisong Community Hall said, "A home is not a home without a tree."

Park explained the work of Food and Trees for Africa. "We provide trees and vegetable seeds to disadvantaged communities and offer socially responsibility on how people can make their cities greener."

The money is also used to set up training centres where young people are taught about the greening programme.

Food and Trees for Africa's Lucky Xaba said, "Many of our houses are built near roads and we need trees to protect us from soil erosion and dust particles. Mostly, trees can be a barrier against negligent drivers."

Councillor Raletlhodi Kekae urged residents to plant indigenous trees in addition to fruit trees and vegetables. "We advise people to plant food trees and vegetable seeds in order to generate their own food."

Food and Trees for Africa has joined forces with the Departments of Water Affairs and Forestry, Agriculture and Housing, and has planted trees in KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

The tree planting programme improves the quality of life in the communities affected: creating jobs, improving health, offering educational opportunities, creating a clean environment and building civic pride and community spirit.

Councillor Raletlhodi Kekae plants a peach tree

Mogale City's Integrated Environment Management group has been working closely with the greening programme.

Snowy Mothiba, the director of Integrated Environment Management, said, "We continue to join forces with programmes like Foods and Trees for Africa so we can provide agricultural assistance to our people."

Other areas targeted to receive trees are Kagiso Extensions 12 and 14 and Sqobile.

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