Mandela Day is an annual celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life and a global call to action for people to recognise their individual power to make an imprint and change the world around them.

During the month of July, Trudon (Publishers of the Yellow Pages) distributed 2 500 trees to the fortunate residents of Nellmapius, Gauteng and Bloemfontein in the Free State, answering the worldwide call to spend at least 67 minutes of their time doing something useful within their communities, especially among the less fortunate. A global movement for positive change begins with small actions. As each person acts, they fuel momentum toward positive change, raising awareness and expanding the reach of Mr Mandela’s values – fighting injustice, helping people in need and practicing reconciliation.

In conjunction with South Africa's premier social greening social enterprise, Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), Trudon has generously sponsored 10 000 trees for distribution in low cost housing settlements across South Africa as part of their ongoing commitment to social upliftment and poverty alleviation.

“As Trudon is in the production of printed directories, we as a company need to contribute to preserving our environment by planting trees. Trudon prints 7 million books per annum and we believe that by partnering with Food & Trees for Africa we minimise our impact on the environment by the planting of 10 000 trees in low cost housing settlements across SA,” says Trudon’s Corporate Social Investment Manager, Clarissa Smith.

The first Trudon Nellmapius distributions of 500 trees each took place on 18 July at the Customer Care Centre, Corner Love and Lesedi Street at 10h00 and 19 July at the Multi-Purpose Centre, Corner Lesedi and Moreri Street at 10h00. A further 1 500 trees were distributed to the excited residents of Bloemfontein on 27, (venue to be confirmed) and 28 and 29 July at Botshabelo Stadium. 

These Trudon trees will be planted by residents in their yards through the Trees for Homes Programme, a successful urban greening programme. In the process 50 unemployed residents of these settlements will be trained as community educators to spread environmental and climate change awareness, support the correct planting and good maintenance of these trees and report back to Trudon on the growth of their green gift.

Trudon has already distributed 1 500 to the residents of Nompumalelo near East London in the Eastern Cape. Another 1 500 trees have successfully been planted in Braamfischerville, Gauteng. Other beneficiary communities that will receive the remaining 4 500 trees include Delft in the Western Cape (mid August), Durban in KwaZulu Natal (beginning September), and Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape (mid September).

“These trees are an excellent way to introduce complex issues like global warming,” said Trees for Homes Manager Joanne Lee Rolt. “This Trudon project is timely in the lead up to the United Nations COP17 meeting that will take place in Durban in a few months time when world leaders will get together to try to reach agreement on how to respond to this serious issue that threatens the well being of us all.”

For more information or to attend any of the Trudon Trees for Homes distribution events, please contact Joanne Lee Rolt on 011 656 9802/3 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it