Seven million trees in six months: South Africa's planting drive
The government says 7.1 million trees have gone into the ground since April, against a goal of one billion. The Western Cape has planted the most.
Pretoria — South Africans have planted more than seven million trees since the start of April under a presidential programme that aims, eventually, for one billion, the deputy environment minister has said.
Writing on the government news service, Bernice Swarts put the total since the financial year began on 1 April at 7,134,711.
Province by province
- Western Cape: 2,053,786
- KwaZulu-Natal: 1,052,494
- Gauteng: 1,012,051
- Eastern Cape: 736,692
- Mpumalanga: 519,512
- Limpopo: 518,023
- Northern Cape: 515,264
- North West: 400,619
- Free State: 326,294
Heritage Day
A nationwide planting campaign was held on 24 September, South Africa's Heritage Day. President Cyril Ramaphosa opened it by planting a tree at a stadium in Oudtshoorn, in the Western Cape. Premiers, municipalities, traditional leaders, businesses and community groups led events elsewhere, and Ms Swarts was joined by foreign diplomats at Freedom Park in Pretoria.
Why trees
The deputy minister lists the benefits as absorbing carbon, cleaner air, less soil erosion, shade, and greener places to live. She calls each tree an investment in a country better able to withstand a changing climate.
Counting them
People who plant are asked to register each tree on the department's website with a photograph and its GPS coordinates. The department says this lets it track who is taking part and monitor whether the trees grow and survive.
The article does not set a date by which the full target is meant to be reached.
Source: SAnews, 29 September 2026.
