Are you a landscaper? Now is the time to join the South African Landscapers’ Institute (SALI). SALI needs your support. We are hard at work – with sister organisations – to get all landscapers in the sector back to work – safely and responsibly.

To date:

On 27 April 2020, SALI has submitted an application to the government – with sister organisations in the green industries – for all landscaping services to be included in the regulations as essential services.
SALI members have been issued with a customized set of SALI – COVID-19 Risk Management Guidelines to ensure the safety of all staff and to prevent spreading the coronavirus and associated disease COVID-19.
Legislation

The words ‘landscaper’ and ‘landscaping’ do not appear in the Risk Adjusted Strategy Regulations issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 on 29 April 2020.
The Risk Adjusted Strategy Regulations framework of sector service regulations – came into effect on 1 May 2020.
Five alert levels were announced under the schedule of services.
Under Level 4, should landscapers undertake any work, they will need to ensure any proposed work (per site and per client) qualifies as an essential service for permits in compliance with the Risk Adjusted Strategy Regulations – Level 4.
Domestic ‘garden services’ are listed under Level 3 and therefore cannot operate at present.
Landscapers will need to make informed and responsible decisions – per project site – and with the necessary permits to ensure compliance with the law.
Importance of landscapes

Landscapes collectively represent the green infrastructure in urban areas.

Landscapers believe that their work is important, it contributes valuable green jobs to the economy and can be achieved safely and responsibly. Landscapers work outdoors and their staff density across sites is low which assists with physical distancing.

Maintaining and installing landscapes should therefore be regarded in the same light as other built infrastructure – like roads and buildings.

“Landscapes reflect significant financial investment over years by public and private landowners”, says Norah de Wet, National Chairperson of the South African Landscapers’ Institute.

“Landscapes are living systems that require ongoing maintenance to continue to serve, and continue to achieve, the function for which they were cultivated and constructed”, she says.

“It is well established that landscapes can contribute significant value to the overall well-being of humans and the environment at this time”, she adds.

Conclusion

Within the landscaping industry there are a diverse range of professions and occupations – all of which contribute to green jobs in the economy.
Participants in this sector range from skilled to semi-skilled and unskilled employees.
In order for the sector to operate optimally, the full range of service providers are required (from growers to landscape maintenance workers), as each contributes specialized skills that are integrated to ensure efficient and effective service delivery across the board.
All landscapers in the sector need to get back to work.
Download these Government resources for your information.

Occupational Health and Safety Directive for Covid-19 – Issued on 28 April 2020
Risk Adjusted Strategy Regulations – issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 – as published in the Government Gazette Vol. 658 – 29 April 2020 No. 43258.
Contact:

Cape (Gaynor): (+27) 67 828 0667 │ cape@sali.co.za
Gauteng (Corné): (+27) 64 975 4238 │ gauteng@sali.co.za
KwaZulu-Natal (Sandy): (+27) 83 361 8228 │ kzn@sali.co.za