SOSHANGUVE — Tshwaranang Community Solution, in partnership with the City of Tshwane Environment and Agriculture Management, held an Arbor Day commemoration at Uniting Lutheran Church in Block L, Soshanguve, on 11 September 2026.
The campaign was aimed at encouraging communities to take action against climate change and prepare for the possible impacts of changing weather conditions in Gauteng.
The event was organised under the theme “My Tree, My Oxygen, Plant Yours Today”, with community members encouraged to take action by reducing air pollution and illegal dumping in the area.
The City of Tshwane donated 55 trees to be planted across the city, including fruit trees aimed at contributing to food security and helping protect residents from the possible effects of future weather changes.
Tshwaranang Community Solution Project Leader Mr Xolani Nkosi said the community needed to prepare for the expected increase in temperatures.
“50 to 100 days from now, we will be experiencing a heat of 35 degrees Celsius,” Nkosi said.
He said tree-planting initiatives had taken place before, with the aim of planting trees in areas such as Soshanguve that could be affected by strong winds and heatwaves.
According to Nkosi, protecting communities from extreme weather conditions should be treated as a priority.
Residents were also given an opportunity to share their experiences and concerns about trees and environmental conditions in their communities.
Some residents raised concerns about trees that had previously been planted but were not properly maintained. They said some trees had eventually damaged properties and electricity connections, resulting in them being cut down.
Residents also called for more trees to be planted, saying trees could provide fresh air and shade, while some fruit trees could contribute to food security. Others highlighted the potential uses of trees for medicinal purposes and wood manufacturing.
The concerns raised by residents highlighted the importance of not only planting trees, but also ensuring that they are properly maintained to prevent damage to properties and infrastructure.
On behalf of Councillor Tebogo Mashapa, Mr Goodwill Mabusela thanked everyone for their support and said the activities play an important role in the community.
“These activities play a huge role in the community because there is more life with trees. Everyone must normalise planting trees with our hearts, not just for us but for the upcoming generations to come, leaving a legacy behind,” Mabusela said.
The Arbor Day commemoration was held as part of Tshwaranang Community Solution’s community based environmental awareness and climate action initiatives, in partnership with the City of Tshwane Environment and Agriculture Management.
The organisers encouraged residents to take part in environmental initiatives and contribute towards creating a greener and healthier Soshanguve.
