This morning, the City of Cape Town’s Facilities Management department, together with the Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Theresa Uys, and the Corporate Services portfolio chairperson, Councillor Fabian Ah-Sing, wrapped up this year’s Spring Cleaning programme and Arbor month by planting White Milkwood trees at the Durbanville Municipal Building and Royal Ascot Municipal Building respectively. Three more trees were also planted at other municipal sites
‘The Spring Cleaning programme takes place every year and is a time when the City’s Facilities Management does a number of post-winter initiatives that ensure residents experience clean, neat and welcoming smiles at our facilities. This year, we proudly aligned our Spring Cleaning Programme with the celebration of Arbor Month. In honour of this occasion, I had the privilege of planting the 2025 Tree of the Year, the White Milkwood, at the Durbanville Municipal Building. Known as the Melkhoutboom in Afrikaans and Umqwashu in Xhosa, this indigenous tree symbolises resilience and environmental stewardship,’ said Alderman Theresa Uys, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services.
As part of our broader Spring Cleaning and Arbor Month initiatives, the City’s Facilities Management team planted five White Milkwood trees sourced from the Newlands Nursery, Parks Department. These trees now stand proudly in Durbanville, Royal Ascot, Lwandle, Gugulethu, and at the Goodwood Traffic Management Centre, each one a living contribution to a greener, more sustainable future.
‘These five trees represent our commitment to cultivating greener, healthier urban environments. The White Milkwood is known for its resilience and also for its deep-rooted heritage value. May I encourage all our residents to consider planting indigenous trees and taking care of them. By doing this, we ‘grow’ a richer heritage for generations to come. Trees provide shelter and food for birds and insects, and shade for us to enjoy,’ said Alderman Uys.
