Media Coverage

Green Initiative Takes Root in KwaMashu

Tongaat Hulett Developments (formerly Moreland) is planting more than just trees this Arbour Week; for more than 700 children at the Gozololo Care Centre in KwaMashu, they're planting hope and pride in the future of their community.
The Initiative

The vision of an “Integrated Green Community Initiative” – a partnership between Tongaat Hulett Developments, Gozololo Care Centre, Wildlands Conservation Trust and Gagasi99.5fm – focuses on the long-term value of a green environment and its impact on the lives of people in the community. In the weeks leading up to Arbour Day, Wildlands has carried out training, providing the children with skills to nurture and care for their trees as well as source seeds, remove alien plants, and ultimately even cultivate and sell their own trees.

Arbour Day Celebrations

A lively procession from Gozololo Care Centre to the house of Mama Cele, the Centre's founder, will begin the Arbour Day ceremony on 7 September, followed by the planting of a special tree in honour of Mama Cele, by Tongaat Hulett Developments MD Gordon Hibbert and Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo. In addition to the planting of numerous trees at Gozololo, children and other guests will be taking 1000 trees home with them to extend the ‘greening' initiative.
Corporate Social Partnership

Corporate Social Partnership (CSP) is integral to Tongaat Hulett Developments' corporate strategy. The partnership philosophy focuses on collaboration with the communities in which the company operates by first understanding their challenges and needs, and then providing assistance and facilitating empowerment where it has the most relevance and impact for each community.

THD is committed to creating integrated, sustainable environments, and while job creation and the use of local materials and labour are cornerstones of the company's operations, the ‘green' aspect has equal importance, according to Bongani Gumede , Director Corporate Services.

“We aim to build an understanding of the value of the environment amongst communities in order to create sustainability,” explained Gumede, “A healthier environment and cleaner air are essential, but there are also far more deep-rooted implications. ‘Green' areas have long been associated with upmarket suburbs, but now this community can enjoy the same ‘greening' and the sense of pride and growth that are associated with it.”

Architects

“We're anchoring the project with the children,” Gumede continued: “They are not only the architects of the future, but of today's world as well. Children shape the decisions made by adults, and they can also set a wonderful example!

“If adults see that children are capable of planting and taking care of a tree, and changing the neighbourhood for the better, they will realise that they can do the same.”

Tongaat Hulett - 18 May 2009