Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts to commemorate the International Day of Forests in Diepsloot, Johannesburg

20 March 2025

The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms. Bernice Swarts, will lead the commemoration of the International Day of Forests (IDF) in Diepsloot, Johannesburg, tomorrow, Friday, 21 March 2025.

As part of the build-up to the main event, Deputy Minister Swarts, alongside African Municipal Mayors attending the 2nd African Forum on Urban Forests (AFUF) in Johannesburg, will participate in a tree-planting ceremony at Freedom Park, Pretoria.

Participating mayors include:

Ms Rohey Malick Lowe – Mayor of City of Banjul, The Gambia 
Cllr Sello Enoch Dada Morero – City of Johannesburg, South Africa  
Mr George Mwanza – Mayor of Chipata, Zambia • Cllr Cyril Xaba – Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, South Africa  
Mr Adama Sarr – Mayor of Keur Massar Nord, Dakar, Senekal

Following the Freedom Park ceremony, Deputy Minister Swarts and the mayors will proceed to Diepsloot to mark International Day of Forests (IDF). She will be joined by Gauteng MEC for Environment, Ms. Sheila Mary Peters, as well as community members, for additional tree-planting activities.

The International Day of Forests (IDF) is a global event established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to raise awareness about the vital role of forests and trees in sustaining life for current and future generations.

Media are invited to attend and cover the event as follows:

Tree Planting at Freedom Park in Pretoria

Date: Friday, 21 March 2025 
Time: 07:00 – 08:00 
Venue: Freedom Park, Pretoria

International Day of Forests (IDF) Commemoration in Diepsloot

Date: Friday, 21 March 2025
Time: 09:00am
Venue: Diepsloot Memorial Park, Diepsloot

To RSVP, please contact:

Michael Mokoena
Mobile: +27 82 906 5795
E-mail: mmokoena@dffe.gov.za

Peter Mbelengwa: 
Mobile: +27 82 611 8197
E-mail: smabena@dffe.gov.za

For media enquiries please contact:

Peter Mbelengwa: 
Mobile: +27 82 611 8197
E-mail: pmbelengwa@dffe.gov.za