Deputy Minister Swarts to visit Nelson Mandela Commemorative Tree at Steyn City As Part Of The Presidential One Billion Trees Programme

21 September 2026

The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Bernice Swarts, will on Monday, 21 September 2026, visit the commemorative tree planted by former President Nelson Mandela following his release from prison. The tree is located at Steyn City in Midrand, Gauteng.

The visit forms part of the Presidential One Billion Trees Programme and the national campaign to plant ten million trees on Heritage Day, 24 September 2026.

The Presidential One Billion Trees Programme seeks to mobilise South Africans from all walks of life-including government, the private sector, business, interfaith formations, the diplomatic corps, traditional leaders, non-governmental organisations, youth formations and communities-to plant trees as part of efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The programme is an initiative of President Cyril Ramaphosa and is led by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in partnership with various stakeholders.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the visit as follows:

Date: Monday, 21 September 2026 Time: 10h00 Venue: Steyn City, Midrand, Gauteng

To RSVP, please contact

Evile Ntshangase
Cell: 072 211 6964
Email: [email protected]

or

Banele Mabena
Cell: 066 420 0144
Email: [email protected]

For media queries contact,

Michael Mokoena
Cell: 082 906 5795