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Trees, more especially forests play a significant role in climate change as both of these are inexplicably linked together. Research by the Nature Climate Change found that the world’s forests provide a “carbon sink” that absorbs 7.6 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. These trees are able to absorb carbon dioxide when standing or regrowing and thus help reduce greenhouse gases. However, when the trees are cut down or deforestation happens, all of this carbon is released back into the atmosphere.

Historically, South Africa did not have a culture of tree planting, and it was in the 1970s that a real need to promote tree planting was recognised. The concept of National Arbor Day ensued from the 1973 Green Heritage Campaign.

To date, the campaign has graduated to Arbor Month, which is a national campaign initi-ated to celebrate South Africa’s trees and to raise awareness about their importance.

How can you help to protect our indigenous forests? 

The vehicles include skip loader trucks, front end loaders, compactor trucks and other trucks required to transport waste within the municipal area.

She developed her brand on social media and now relies on it for her livelihood.

This is Mbali Sebapu, who is among the young women who are known as influencers and have profited from the development of brand marketing by amassing a sizable fan base on their social media platforms and luring major brands to collaborate with them.

Sebapu (32) spoke with Vuk’uzenzele about her experiences using social networks to make money in order to inspire other young women who use them.

Bushbuckridge Community Radio in Mpumalanga has given Emelita Nyalungu (33) a chance at a better life.

Nyalungu, who is a news reader and current affairs presenter, started at the station as an intern and gradually worked her way up to her current position.

“I was informed by a security guard who used to work at the gate about the audition at the station. I passed the audition. Even though I did not know radio, I had a golden voice and the drive to help me stand out among others,” she said.

Guardians of orphaned children urged to seek extra funds through SASSA 

Even in the best of times caring for an orphaned child who is eligible for a Child Support Grant as a relative can be costly.

Now, relatives or guardians of orphaned children can apply for a 50% top-up to the grant to ease the financial pressure.

Independent body seeks to address injustices within the legal profession so that all citizens are treated ethically 

Should you be a victim of corrupt lawyers or experience any other form of legal malpractice, you can lodge a complaint with South Africa’s Legal Services Ombudsman.

In 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Justice Sirajudien Desai as the Legal Services Ombud in terms of Section 47 of the Legal Practice Act No. 28 of 2014.

Thandiwe Mchunu is tapping into her background as a chemical engineer to turn food waste into compost for her emerging farm.

Born in the agriculturally vibrant village of Mahlongwa, near Umkomaas, in KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast, Mchunu (38) says her decision to study chemicals was to help marginalised communities, particularly women, to produce food at a cheaper cost.

She believes that everything revolves around chemical engineering, just like agriculture.

Nomalanga Sibinda (21) from Pudumong village, just outside Taung, North West, is a proud graduate who holds a Diploma of Agriculture in Irrigation from Taung College of Agriculture.

Sibinda is one of nine students who were supported through a bursary programme that was started in 2019 by North West Agriculture and Rural Development MEC, Desbo Mohono. The students received financial support to complete their three-year diploma, setting them on the path to become serious agribusiness operators.