ON a cool spring night last week on the eastern edge of Braamfontein, surrounded by brightly lit, tall buildings, the mayor officially opened the Sappi Theatre Gardens, positioned just below the Civic Theatre.

An artist's impression of the Theatre Gardens

The gardens, previously just a grassy patch crisscrossed with paths used by workers on their way through Braamfontein, is now fenced with imaginative reed-shaped, green fencing, paved walkways, newly planted trees, a raised central, circular podium, elegant lighting and a water feature trickling down from the theatre entrance. The development cost was R1,8-million, and with 24-hour surveillance now, the area has been transformed.

To the pleasing strains of the Motswako String Quartet, guests mingled between elegant white-decked tables, fairy-lit trees and pots of white azaleas, amply plied with drinks and food.

Hosted by the charming radio talk show host Tim Modise, who complimented the mayor and his entourage with: "Johannesburg is the greenest city on the planet", he went on to introduce Sappi chairman Eugene van As, who sponsored the revamp of the park, and whose headquarters overlook the gardens.

Van As described how Sappi had sounded out the five main corporates in Braamfontein on whether they were remaining in the suburb or leaving. They all agreed, said Van As, that it was "a sensible place" to stay in Johannesburg. Next step was to approach the mayor with a view to upgrading the park. The result was the theatre gardens, now used by Sappi employees for fresh air and lunch breaks.

"The project demonstrates how government and the private sector can come together and do something worthwhile," said Van As. He said he hoped that Wits University would now open their boundaries to Braamfontein, as planned. This, together with the re-opening of the Alexander Theatre, and the return of restaurants, could see Braamfontein take off.

Theatre Gardens

A sound and light show preceded the mayor taking the podium, interspersed with a presentation entitled "Talking to Trees", by storytellers Sue Pam-Grant and Thandi Monageng and the superb voice of soprano Relebogile Lebo Mabotja.

Mayor Amos Masondo said: "The city belongs to you. We must claim every inch of it street by street and block by block."

The opening of the gardens took place during Arbor Week, which Masondo acknowledged. "Arbor Week is not just about planting any trees, regardless of origin. It is about getting all South Africans, in our case all the citizens of Johannesburg, to proactively select and plant indigenous trees."

Masondo ended his speech by commending Sappi and other stakeholders for the "role they continue to play in regeneration and greening efforts".

Masondo then gave Van As a framed certificate of acknowledgement of his contribution to the gardens and the regeneration of Braamfontein. Van As unveiled a plaque, which will be a permanent feature in the gardens.