Arboretum Park

Thabazimbi – The Thabazimbi Local Municipality (TLM) has taken action on a letter to the editor published on 22 June 2020 in Platinum Bushvelder. The reader described the dismal state of Thabazimbi’s arboretum, the potential of the site to host school fieldtrips, and to be developed as a community asset. The letter also described the then illegal activities such as illegal tree felling and dumping of rubble. 

In a press statement released on Wednesday 24 February 2021, TLM says that the Arboretum Park in Hammerkop Street is a protected area in terms of section 62 and 63 of the National Forestry Act. A license or permit is required to cut, disturb, damage, destroy, or transport any indigenous tree in the arboretum. Environmental offenders can be prosecuted in terms of the act and could face a fine or three years community service.

The area has been secured with a new fence and gate and no trespassing, tree felling, or dumping will be allowed as per the Integrated Development Plan. 

TLM has further committed to cutting the long grass that has grown this summer and have asked Marakele National Park to assist them in identifying and tagging protected trees. 

The post on the arboretum shared on TLM’s Facebook page elicited a comment that the natural area must be made available to everyone. TLM was urged to promote school field trips where indigenous knowledge and the benefits of the green areas could be shared more widely with the community.