KZN LEGISLATURE DEPUTY SPEAKER HON. MMABATHO TEMBE COMMEMORATES ARBOR MONTH AT JOEL PRIMARY SCHOOL

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mmabatho Tembe, joined learners and educators at Joel Primary School in Maphumulo to commemorate Arbor Month through tree planting and the creation of a vegetable garden.

Addressing learners from the school’s Natural Science Class, Hon. Tembe highlighted the importance of caring for the environment and the critical role young people play in building a sustainable future.

“I am so happy to be here with you today. We are gathered for an important reason, to celebrate and care for our environment. As Natural Science learners, you know how everything in nature is connected, the trees, the soil, the rivers, and even the air we breathe. All of these work together to keep our planet alive and healthy.

But our environment is under pressure. Pollution, climate change, and natural disasters like floods are threatening our communities. Here in KwaZulu-Natal, floods have become more frequent and severe. They wash away soil, damage plants and trees, and make it harder for wildlife and people to thrive. Floods remind us just how important it is to take care of our land and water, because a healthy environment helps reduce the impact of these disasters.

One of the simplest and most powerful ways we can help is by planting trees and indigenous plants. Trees are more than just nice to look at, they clean the air, provide homes for birds and insects, and even help prevent floods by holding the soil together. Every plant you put in the ground is a small superhero protecting our planet.

Today, as we plant our trees and create our garden, remember that you are helping fight climate change, reducing pollution, and making our community greener and healthier.

So let us work together, plant, water, and care for our gardens. Each small action matters, and together, we can make a big difference for our environment, for our province, and for the future.”

The tree planting activity formed part of the Legislature’s ongoing programme to raise awareness about environmental sustainability and to encourage communities, especially the youth, to play an active role in protecting natural resources.