Thirty trees donated by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, planted in Diepsloot on Mandela Day
Former head of Mandela Day, Advocate Gushwell Brooks, and his spouse, Regina Blumears, joined St Stithians College Junior Preparatory School, in partnership with the Earthly Touch Foundation and Cherrith Projects, to plant 30 trees in Diepsloot on 18 July 2025, Nelson Mandela International Day.
The trees, donated by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, were shared across three sites in Diepsloot: a vocational training centre for women and youth, Khensani’s Collection (an aftercare and extra lessons venue), and an early childhood development centre. The sites allocated space for community food gardens.
The 30 trees consist of fruit trees, peach and plum trees, and indigenous trees for shade, providing the necessary cover for children to play outside in an area defined by limited outdoor play areas.
Earthly Touch Foundation and Cherrith Projects have built and continue to create educational structures across the three sites in Diepsloot, innovatively using eco-bricks. Eco-bricks are made using recycled two-litre plastic bottles filled with plastic waste and, in turn, used as bricks that are as structurally sound as cement bricks. It is a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to build essential infrastructure for a community in dire need.
Total Energies, Colourful Splendour, Peebles Plants, Tiger Brands, and the University of Johannesburg Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences Department joined Saint Stithians College Junior Preparatory School to plant a new vegetable garden, plant the thirty trees, and make eco-bricks.
Mandela Day brought all of these organisations together to capacitate a group of individuals and organisations doing positive community work within Diepsloot – work aimed at improving the lives of Diepsloot youth. This moment truly marks that it is in our hands to end poverty and inequality.