Lisa Malcomess, City Bowl
These tree perpetrators must be found and prosecuted.
As the damage is fresh, it must have been done in the last two or three weeks.
They have hacked their names deeply into one of the biggest and oldest trees in De Waal Park. The cuts are so deep they even reached the gum inside the tree. This tree is somewhere between 90- and 130-years-old, older than their grandparents or great-grandparents.
I don’t know if it’s ignorance or arrogance, entitlement, vanity or all of the above, but it is awful to see. It’s disrespectful to this magnificent old tree, and the beautiful park.
It’s not just names scratched onto a tree trunk, these are huge carvings.
Botanists at Kirstenbosch have been consulted. Farmers have stopped using tree sealer these days, and more a tree- friendly solution must be found so the tree can breathe through the wounds. They all agree repairs must be done immediately.
The City’s Parks and Recreaction department has also been involved, and they are taking it very seriously.
The concern is that, like graffiti, similar minded people will follow suit.
If anyone recognises these names, as they are more than likely friends, please contact Law Enforcement. They can remain anonymous.
