City Parks Hosts Tree-Planting Legacy Project to Honour Nelson Mandela | Western Cape Government

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City Parks Hosts Tree-Planting Legacy Project to Honour Nelson Mandela

11 December 2013

The City of Cape Town’s Parks Department will host tree-planting ceremonies at five identified sites to honour the late Nelson Mandela. The ceremonies will take place simultaneously at all five sites tomorrow, 12 December 2013.

Date:         Thursday 12 December 2013
Time:         17:00
Venues:     Tambo Village, Green Belt, Gugulethu
                  Mandela Park, Khayelitsha
                  McKenzie Street Park, Cape Town CBD
                  Nantes Park, Athlone
                  Makana Street, Langa

All media are welcome to attend.

The name Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is synonymous with longevity, strength of character, and with a personality larger than life. He was fondly referred to as Tata which means ‘father of the nation’ and his legacy is one of peace, unity, equality and respect for one’s fellow man. It is this legacy that the City Parks Department wishes to celebrate through the tree-planting ceremony.

‘We see trees as having a symbolic resemblance to many of the qualities displayed by Madiba. They are both strong and have a profound impact on the people around them. Many of these qualities reflect the personality of Madiba and in addition his birth name, Rolihlahla, given to him by his father is an isiXhosa name which means “pulling the branch of a tree”.

‘Trees create positive living environments and contribute to the quality of life of communities, as did Tata Madiba,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Special Projects, Alderman Belinda Walker.

The City Parks Department will be planting olive trees, assegai trees and ficus (spp), which symbolise Madiba’s qualities.

The olive tree in particular most symbolises Madiba as it is known as the ‘Peace Tree’, and for its longevity. The olive tree has retained its symbolic power amongst the different cultures and nations as representing wisdom, peace, hope, light, fertility and health.

Community members from across the city and visitors are invited to join the City Parks Department in celebrating the life and times of Nelson Mandela by participating in the tree-planting ceremony. The symbolic trees are being planted in our public open spaces, where we can in the future be reminded of the legacy, the icon and the person who changed not only our country but the world.

Media Enquiries: 

Alderman Belinda Walker,
Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Special Projects, City of Cape Town 
Tel: 021 400 1314 or Cell: 083 629 8031
E-mail: Belinda.Walker@capetown.gov.za