A FEW kilometres outside Graaff-Reinet stands the site of South Africa’s giant Mother Flag project initiated with the vision to provide solar power to the town while creating ‘green’ jobs and establishing a unique tourist attraction.
At its launch in 2014, the project attracted international interest, and founder, Guy Lieberman, was thrilled when it was declared one of CNN’s ‘10 ideas to change the world’.
It aims at creating a huge South African flag the size of 66 soccer fields on previously barren land using white roads, black solar panels and an assortment of colourful plants.
The green comes from spekboom, an indigenous plant which grows well in the Karoo. Golden barrel is used for the yellow, Mexican barrel for the red, and agave for the blue. Indigenous flowering plants will also be planted as ground cover, and will cause a spectacular riot of colour in spring. A viewing platform has been built in the Camdeboo National Park, and the finished flag will even be visible from space.
Whilst the full logistics and funding are still being finalised, a 1ha pilot project has been established adjacent to the main site.
This Mother Flag is laid out in the same design, and groundsman, Attie Hendriks, works full time to monitor the growth of the chosen plants. The solar panels here provide basic lighting at night.
The main project is now moving forward, after a memorandum of understanding was finally signed with the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality in partnership with PowerX, a company which buys and sells green energy.
Trustee, Jimmy Joubert, has been very involved in this aspect of the project, and is optimistic that electricity will be available for Graaff-Reinet from June 2020.
He explained that it will generate electricity in phases, starting with one megawatt, then increasing to 5MW and eventually 15MW.
“The electricity generated will be sold through the municipal systems if an agreement can be reached with the municipality,” said Joubert, adding that pricing will be subject to a model being worked out.
The Mother Flag site is open to the public, and has proved to be a very popular attraction with tourists.
Public liaison officer, Thobeka Booysen, is available to give tours of the site, and can be contacted on 071 142 7712.
