Nieuwe Drift Primary School

Project Details:

Beneficiary: Nieuwe Drift Primary School
Project Value: R177,000
Date of Completion: 2024

Summary: Isipani Foundation assisted Nieuwe Drift Primary School to clear the playground of invasive trees to create a safer space for the learners to play.

Located in Paarl, Nieuwe Drift Primary School provides affordable education to more than 600 learners from the surrounding communities.  The Isipani Foundation partnered with Tony Riddles to make the school grounds safer and opening up more playing areas by removing the alien invasive trees that dominated the property.

Invasive trees are an issue across many parts of South Africa, and can lead to a decline in the overall health of the local ecosystem. Not only do they consume significantly more water than native vegetation, but they can also increase the amount of flammable material on a property making it more susceptible to wildfires, which poses a threat to buildings, and lives, and contribute to the degradation of the environment.

The Western Cape  is one of South Africa’s provinces that is most affected by veld fires, due to alien vegetation and increasing hot, dry periods exacerbating the situation. It experiences a significant number of wildfires, particularly during its fire season that runs between November to May. For this reason the Foundation felt it was important to lend a hand.

“The Isipani Foundation’s partnership with Tony Riddles meant we were able to assist the school by proactively clearing the invasive trees from school premises, protecting the school buildings, learners and staff as well as improving the biodiversity on the property,” says Isipani Foundation Chairperson, Ray-Ann Sedres.

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