Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts: Launch of the Billion Trees Programme

 

Deputy Minister of DPSA Ms Pinky Kekana

MEC for Environment in Gauteng, Mr Ewan Botha

Mayor of Tswelopele local municipality and SALGA chairperson of National Working Group of Environmental Planning & Climate Change Resilience: Cllr Kenalemang Phukuntsi

Ambassador of Eritrea and Dean of Diplomatic Corps: H.E Mr Salih Omar Abdu

Diplomatic Corps: Ambassadors and High Commissioners

President of Jewish National Fund South Africa: Ms Isla Feldman

Chairperson of the Board (SANBI), Dr Mmaphaka Tau

Chief Executive Officer of SANBI, Mr Shonisani Munzhezi

Executive Director of the Forest Sector Charter Council, Ms Khosi Mavimbela

Potential sponsors and partners

Non- Government Organisations

Students and learners

Representatives of Labour Unions

Members of the media

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

 

Let me greet you all and extend my special appreciation to the Lord for making this day possible as we continue the efforts to plant trees and green our country.

 

I am proud to announce that last year on heritage day the 24th of September 2025 we managed to plant 1,3 million trees in one day. I think this is a proud moment for me and a highly commendable effort towards the mammoth task given to us by H.E. the Honourable President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, may we give a round of applause to everyone who contributed to the success of last years’ campaign!

 

 May I also thank all officials who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the success of last years’ campaign. I know it was not easy and at times it was extremely demanding, but you remained committed and worked hard to make the campaign a success.

 

This achievement demonstrated the power of collective action and the positive response of South Africans to the clarion call for everyone to participate.

 

For this, we thank all South Africans who participated in the programme. We thank all stakeholders – including international bodies, African nations and all South Africans – who participated and supported this campaign.

 

I thank all media houses that offered us an opportunity to talk to communities about the campaign last year.

 

May I also thank the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) for working with our department to effectively communicate the campaign last year.

 

I urge the GCIS Team to continue to support us as we work to ensure that information about the Presidential Programme as well as the Ten Million Trees Campaign reaches every corner of the country.

 

This year alone we aim to plant 10 million trees on heritage day at no cost to government, and i wish to thank all our donors for the generosity and commitment of putting the country and the environment first and i note that some of them are here  with us in this session.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen we are experiencing severe and worrying weather patterns which have a devastating effect in the lives of our people and the environment and as South Africans we should all be concerned.

 

We all remember the flood-stricken Kruger National Park and the extent of the impact and devastation to our cherished national asset.

 

The inclement weather has not only affected the Kruger National Park but has been devastating in the wider Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces where we have sadly witnessed loss of life. Our prayers are with all the affected families.

 

Just last week we have witnessed heavy rains and floods, particularly in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape. These incidents taking place both nationally and internationally, have unfortunately impacted on the lives of communities and negatively affected the economies.

 

As I am speaking right now, we have schools that are yet to re-open due to the impact of these floods. We have come to realize the reality of the effects of climate change, and this is just a signal that it is a responsibility of everyone to work together, it is more a call of duty to be patriotic now more than ever before for all South Africans.

 

I know we cannot fight nature, but I want to believe we can still act differently, it is our shared responsibility to act, to adapt, and to do so in a way that leaves no one behind.

 

Ladies and gentlemen

 

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s legal mandate and core business are to manage, protect and conserve South Africa’s environment and natural resources.

 

To give effect to this constitutional environmental right and the need for sound environmental management and sustainable development, the DFFE has over a period developed a comprehensive environmental management legislative/regulatory framework.

 

This regulatory framework comprises acts of Parliament (environmental laws), regulations, policies, norms and standards, and other regulatory tools that are aimed at promoting sound environmental management practices to protect and conserve the environment for the benefit of current and future generations.

 

The National Forests Act,1998 provides the custodianship of the forestry function in the country. The planting of trees in residential settlements, recreational facilities, parks and open spaces has been identified as critical environmental management interventions to address the effects of climate change.

 

It is for this reason that the department is pursuing the coordination and implementation of the National Greening Programme in line with Local Government Greening strategies and plans.

 

To ensure that South Africans benefit from the National Greening Programme, His Excellency the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, has directed us to plant a Billion Trees over the next few years. It is through this directive that I’m proud today to officially launch the PRESIDENTIAL ONE BILLION TREES PROGRAMME. We are launching this Presidential Programme under the theme: “My Tree, My Oxygen. Plant Yours Today.” The Presidential One Billion Trees Programme seeks to mobilise South Africans from all walks of life — including government, the private sector, business, interfaith formations, diplomatic corps, traditional leaders, NGOs, youth formations and communities — to plant trees as part of our collective efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

 

This Presidential Programme is a call by the President to all South Africans to plant trees in order to protect our planet for our children and future generations.    

 

Ladies and gentlemen, as we launch the Presidential One Billion Trees Programme today, it gives me great honour to announce that this year government – working with all South Africans – plans to plant Ten Million Trees on Heritage Day, 24 September!  

 

These trees will be planted across the country in our safe spaces such as schools, community parks, health facilities and in our residential spaces.

 

It is therefore the President’s call that all South Africans participate in this programme by planting trees on Heritage Day.

 

We call on all South Africans – including all spheres of government, organised business, organised labour, civil society and all our citizens – to participate in the campaign to plant Ten Million Trees on Heritage Day in September 2026 as part of the Presidential One Billion Trees Programme.  

 


We also call on you as members of the Forth Estate to also participate in this Presidential Programme. We urge the media to participate in the campaign on Heritage Day and to continue informing the nation about the importance of planting trees in the fight against climate change. We call on the media to encourage our communities to plant trees to tackle poverty, underdevelopment and the effects of climate change in our communities.    

 

My message this year is simple – let us go all out and work with all South Africans to ensure that this years’ campaign to plant Ten Million Trees on Heritage Day is even bigger and more impactful than last year’s!

 

Programme Director

 

As a country, we continue to confront the growing challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and food insecurity. These challenges affect us all, but they weigh most heavily on the poor and vulnerable people .Biodiversity loss also disproportionately affects the country’s poorest people, particularly in rural areas, who dependdirectly on natural ecosystems for food, water, medicine, and livelihoods. As ecosystems degrade, these communities face reduced food security, decreased income, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change, exacerbating inequality.

 

Greening our country is therefore not only an environmental responsibility, but also a social and economic necessity. Trees do offer economic benefits from the angle of integrating theminto sustainable settlements. In this regard I would like to appeal to provinces and local government stakeholders to note that properties that have been greened using trees and other plants realised increased property values. 

This in turn ensures that Municipalities can collect more rates thereby enabling increased service delivery in that particular local authority. The participation of municipalities will improve planning at municipal level where projects that can contribute to the mitigation of climate change such as repurposing of dumping sites to safe and peaceful parks can be identified. This year we will be engaging with stakeholders who contribute to rehabilitation of degraded areas. 

There are already some entities who have come on board in this regard in the Eastern Cape. We would like to spread these initiatives even to those provinces that have experienced disasters through flooding so that tree planting speaks to the felt needs of communities. Trees also frequently bear the burden of pollution and industrial waste, especially in densely populated areas and industrialised zones with high levels of air pollution..Greening is thus inseparable from the pursuit of spatial justice in the context of a South Africa where the under-development of lower-income communities is the product of historical processes rooted in segregation

 

Let us once again come together in the spirit of shared responsibility and common purpose. Let us plant not only trees, but the seeds of hope, dignity and lasting change in every community across our nation.

 

Ladies and gentlemen

 

The concept document has been developed with clear actions and is in the process of ratification. It spells out how this initiative will be carried out for the benefit of every citizen of the country. The DFFE team will go through the relevant governance structures to ensure commitment and participation, At my level I have started conversations with different role players.

 

For us to achieve this we will:-

 

 

Programme Director

 

The Wastewater treatment plants are essential for protecting public health and water resources; however, they are often associated with persistent odour emissions that negatively affect surrounding communities. At Ekurhuleni Water Care Company (ERWAT), with 19 Wastewater Treatment Works ,odour generation from treatment processes such as sludge handling, anaerobic decomposition, and chemical reactions presents an ongoing environmental and social challenge.

 These odours can lead to neighbouring community discomfort, complaints, and reputational risks, particularly in densely populated areas within the City of Ekurhuleni. Inadequate odour mitigation measures may also weaken public trust and reduce the perceived acceptability of wastewater infrastructure, despite its critical role in service delivery.

 It is therefore important to develop green spaces through tree planting in and around the wastewater treatment plant which offer buffers between the communities and add to the general wellness of the environment. It is for this reason that DFFE will support the planting of trees around the ERWAT water treatment plant. This initiative will serve as a pilot as we intend to extend this service to other Wastewater Treatment Works in the country.

 

Ladies and gentlemen

 

Thank you for joining us today as we reflect on the plan for 2026/27 financial year. I believe we can rise to the challenge to build a better country for the benefit of everyone as we heed the call as directed by the President.

 

In closing,

 

I just read someone’s status and I found it to be so true – it says the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago – the second-best time is now. I want to go and plant my tree now in the garden, it is my oxygen. Plant yours today as well.

 

I want to thank everyone for coming to support us in this initiative and we look forward to sharing more insights as we interact with all of you.

 

I thank you.

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