Statement by Executive Mayor Gesie van Deventer
1 September 2021
Today, 1 September 2021, Mayor Gesie van Deventer and Municipal Manager Geraldine Mettler joined staff and residents in launching our commemoration of National Arbor Week.
The theme adopted by Stellenbosch Municipality for this year is Planting Hope. Trees in the historic Plein Street and in front of the Town Hall have been draped in turquoise – a unique colour that represents hope, wisdom, tranquillity, protection and good fortune. Importantly, turquoise is also the colour of serenity and calmness, something that the entire world needs a lot of as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns.
“Today we kick-off our annual Arbor Week activities by wrapping the tree in front of the Town Hall in turquoise. What better way to start this new month and this this new season with a dash of hope – something we definitely need a lot of as we battle this COVID-19 pandemic. Hope for our town and hope for our country. Hope that we will recover following the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on our communities”, said Mayor van Deventer.
Arbor Week is always a highlight on our events calendar and something that we look forward to as the City of Oaks. This year, the Mayor suggested we adopt turquoise as a symbolic gesture of hope and calmness. Our focus over the past few years has been to plant indigenous trees across the municipal area while also replacing many of our older giant oaks in the historic centre of Stellenbosch.
Our programme for the week includes
1 September 2021 – Launch of Arbor Week – wrapping of trees by the Mayor and Municipal Manager. Tree planting in Plein Street, Klapmuts, Franschoek and along the R44 and R310
2 September 2021- Planting of a tree at Lanquedoc and donation of 30 Fruit trees
3 September 2021 – Donation of trees to community members, trees will be left at public libraries for collection by residents.
6 September 2021 – Planting of trees at Uniepark
7 September 2021 – Opening of the Cloetesville Skate Park and the planting of tree.
National Arbor Week is an opportune time to call on all South Africans to plant indigenous trees as a practical and symbolic gesture of sustainable environmental management.
We encourage all residents to join us as we plant hope in our communities.
