Ramaphosa kicks off 10 million-tree planting drive on Heritage Day

By Charmaine Ndlela

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially kicked off the planting of 10 million trees across South Africa as part of the Presidential One Billion Trees Programme, planting a ceremonial Wild Olive tree at Bongolethu Sport Stadium in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, on Heritage Day.

Ramaphosa, joined by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie and Oudtshoorn Local Municipality Mayor Councillor Jan van der Roos, planted two ceremonial Wild Olive trees as South Africans across all nine provinces joined the nationwide campaign.

The tree planting forms part of the 2026 National Heritage Day celebrations and seeks to promote greener communities while strengthening the country’s response to climate change.

The Wild Olive is one of South Africa’s 2026 Trees of the Year and was selected for the Oudtshoorn planting because of its drought tolerance and suitability to the area’s environmental conditions. 

Government said a total of 4,013 trees will be