Monday, 23 August 2021
Release: Immediate
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), the custodians of green open spaces including cemeteries in the City of Joburg is on the path to bringing the historical Brixton Cemetery back to life through greening restoration, green fencing and the planting of 2000 indigenous trees to mark Arbor Day on 1 September 2021.
In celebration of national Arbor Week which takes place annually from 1 September, JCPZ will be reinforcing the perimeter fencing with a green fence and the planting of indigenous trees along the inside of the fence. With the on-going acts of vandalism, theft of palisade fencing, illegal dumping and the presence of displaced persons, the aim of the green fencing will be in an effort to provide sustainable solutions to these challenges.
Brixton cemetery holds rich history and heritage of the city since it was first laid out in 1912. In the early 1900s Mahatma Gandhi approached the Town Council on behalf of the Hindu community to construct a crematorium, which was built in 1918, the crematorium is now a heritage site. The cemetery is a resting place to other religious sects such as the Jewish, Chinese and Muslim communities. The graves of the many soldiers who fought in two world wars can be found in the cemetery.
As we prepare to mark Arbor Day, let us remember that each of us has an individual responsibility to protect our environment by planting indigenous trees this Arbor month. The Global Peace campaign of 2020, Plant trees, Not Bombs, comes amidst President Cyril Ramphosa’s call to the citizens of South Africa to plant trees across the country.
The benefits of trees are endless. They remove carbon dioxide from the air while releasing oxygen into the atmosphere, purifying the air we breathe. Trees provide shade, attract birds and wildlife, prevent soil erosion and beautify our living spaces.
This year’s theme,” Forest restoration, a path to recovery and well-being “is a desperate call on nations to act now to save our fragile environment. Arbor Month aims to inspire people globally to take action in restoring our earth to its natural splendor.
Ends.
Issued by
Councillor Margaret Arnolds
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Johannesburg
Media enquiries can be directed to: Noeleen Mattera: Stakeholder & Media Relations, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo T: 011 712-6722 / E: nmattera@jhbcityparks.com; www.jhbcityparksandzoo.com. Follow us on Twitter @JoburgParksZoo, Instagram @JoburgParksZoo, on Facebook @JoburgParks and @TheJohannesburgZoo
