Page 5 - Landscape SA 101

FEATURE

NEW NATIONAL

JUDGE FOR SALI

Sbu Dladla is SALI’s new national judge for 2021. He
studied landscape architecture at the University of Pretoria
(UP) until his second year but unfortunately had to leave
for financial reasons. However, determined to complete
his degree, he went to work in the banking sector to save
up enough money in order to continue his studies as soon
as he could.

e registered for the landscape Kirsten and Johnson, he was introduced
technology course at Tshwane to two others – Raymond Hudson and
HUniversity of Technology (TUT), with David Davidson – who inspired him to
the aim of completing his first year and want to know more about landscape
obtaining a bursary to pay for the rest of design, his focus area. “I love the challenge
his academic years. Here he met Lynton of innovatively re-creating spaces in
Johnson, who passed away several years functional yet aesthetically pleasing ways,”
ago. “Lynton took me under his wing and he states.
taught me most of what he knew. I say
‘most’ because there was no way I would It was Johnson who introduced him to Sbu Dladla, new SALI National judge
ever know everything he did – he was an landscape judging when they judged
ocean of knowledge.” gardens for Lifestyle Garden Centre,
the Soweto Garden Club, Irene School Dladla says that Covid has really shown
Following these interactions, Dladla of Garden Design, Plantland garden us the importance of the landscaping
worked with Johnson on many of his shows, Gardenex and the Garden World industry, with many people being forced
private projects, as his right-hand man and Spring Festival. He says it was therefore a to stay home and realising that they
protégé. Towards the end of his academic ‘natural fit’ when he was asked to replace need to invest in their private spaces and
studies, he accompanied Johnson to River his colleague, Dr Kara-Lee Prinsloo, as a gardens. Despite the fact that finances
Lodge Farm where he met Keith Kirsten SALI Gauteng regional judge. “I have now remain a challenge, the world paused but
for the first time. “We went there to ask been entrusted with the role of national is ready to play again and innovation has
for money to pay for my studies, but got judge for the period 2020-2021, and this swept the industry.
an even sweeter deal. Keith is not a fan is a huge step and an enormous privilege.
of charity, in the sense of people getting I get to see what the South African “Back to basics is where the new focus
something without working for it, and he landscaping industry has to offer, and will be, and getting more from the land
therefore gave me a project – to design the experience has been nothing short than just aesthetics. I’m looking forward to
his neighbour’s garden in return for the of amazing! I have seen wonderful work the future that is full of new possibilities.
neighbour paying my fees!”. being done by SALI members around the It’s all about what makes us special as a
country, with each region embracing its country, and how we package that for our
This new link was the beginning of great uniqueness and celebrating it through own people and for the world at large,” he
connections, according to Dladla, as from design. I have thoroughly loved this concludes. LSA
these two industry ‘heavyweights’, namely experience!”

Landscape SA • Issue 101 2021 3