The Chairman (Mr. Frik Birkenstock)
Dear Sir,
It has to my attention that indigenous trees on So-Ja may have been cut down. Find attached an article related to when it becomes an offence to cut down trees (cutting down trees.jpg). At the bottom is also an article regarding a fine that was brought against a contractor for cutting down trees.
The incident was brought to my attention on one of walks on the farm. Find attached two photos IMGA0840 and 841) that clearly indicate where the tree was cut down and only the stump was left. This was down after one of the directors had a braai (I mentioned this on one of my questions I raised regarding the mass use of the tractor as passenger transporter) on this site. Pictures IMFA 842 and 843 show the branches that was cut off and discarded.
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The porpoise of this letter is:
1) To bring this incident to attention of the chairman
2) To provide prove of my statement.
3) To notify the chairman that this is not the first time I have brought this to the attention of the management of the share block scheme. Last time it got removed by either Mr. Dawid Bosch or his brother (Mr. Tielman Bosch) when I put it on notice board. The incident why this notice put up on the notice board was:
a. Mr Faan van Wyk en Mr. Dawid Bosch (both directors of the share block scheme at the time) was taking wood out for a Christmas braai.
b. Their explanation was that they removed the wood from the river and therefore need no permission (contradictory to the attached article)
c. The braai is for all and therefore all is guilty of the crime (contradictory to the attached article because the owner or the curators are held responsible).
4) To provide the chairman (and demand his response and action) to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.
5) To remind the chairman that even taking out wood from the veld for a braai conforms to the attached article.
6) To notify the chairman that this action is a punishable offence.
cutting down indigenous trees
A fine of R4 000 was issued this week to a consultant for a local engineering company, after he cut down indigenous trees without a permit in front of the Oriental Plaza in Eltivillas.
Article By: Frans van der Merwe
Date: 10 November 2006
A fine of R4 000 for the destruction of four indigenous trees without a permit has been issued against a consultant of a contractor involved in a municipal deforestation spree and road-building project in Makhado (Louis Trichardt)
The fine was issued by Environmental Affairs officer Mr Allan McMurtrie to a person on the scene in Eltivillas, identified as a consultant for the contractor Paballo Consulting Engineers. The fine must be paid by December 8 this year, or the matter will be taken to court on January 5, 2007.
This law enforcement action resulted from the cutting down of a lane of giant trees on the N1 border of the
The giant trees which were cut down consisted predominantly of African and also indigenous South African species. Prominent fever trees, a huge paper bark tree and a large wild seringa were among the indigenous South African trees unceremoniously destroyed alongside numerous giant North African Mahogany trees. The destruction of the indigenous South African trees without a permit from Environmental Affairs, resulted in the fine.
Mr McMurtrie said on enquiry all people and institutions should take note that they cannot just cut down indigenous trees. If there is a really good reason for the removal of such a tree from wherever in the urban or rural areas, a permit must be obtained from Environmental Affairs.
"Anybody who does not comply with this law will be fined," McMurtrie said.
Businesses in the Gateway centre, close to where the trees are being cut down, complained that they were without water for well on two days, without any warning, apology or explanation from the municipality. The water stoppage presumably resulted from the wild demolition action which also left the tarred road in front of these businesses ripped up without any pre-warning to the businesses. On Wednesday there were still no efforts to warn motorists about the demolished tarred road in the busy entrance to the
Questions about the authorization and execution of this deforestation project remain unanswered. No media release was forthcoming from the municipality. Efforts to obtain information about the reason and authorization of the project, the way in which the tender was advertised and allocated and the amount of taxpayers’ money being spent on the destruction of a valuable asset were fruitless. Ironically, trees were cut down while tenders are being awaited for the landscaping and planting of trees immediately to the north of the demolished lane in front t of the new Makhado Crossing shopping centre.
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