The tree is in a stand of exotic Eucalyptus saligna in the Magoebaskloof State Forest, which dates back to 1906

Some species have fewer than 50 individuals left in the wild and in South Africa, 6% of its species are threatened

SA has advanced to the Davis Cup’s World Group playoffs for the fourth year in a row after a sterling performance by Izak van der Merwe in Soweto.

South Africa’s No. 2 player Izak van der Merwe has leaped 17 places in the men’s world tennis rankings after beating US player Jesse Levine.

Fritz Wolmarans is the South African standing in the men’s singles qualifying competition at the US Open tennis tournament in New York.

Davis Cup teammates and recent finalists in the Soweto Open, Rik De Voest and Izak van der Merwe began their campaigns on the gruelling French Open.

South African number one Kevin Anderson dropped one place to 35th in the latest ATP world rankings released on Monday.

Izak van der Merwe gained a 6-3 6-2 revenge victory over Frenchman Stephane Robert — a finalist in the R3,5-million Montecasino event last year.

Gael Monfils devoured Dominik Hrbaty and made his South African Open debut on Tuesday night with an impressive 6-2, 6-1 victory.

Davis Cup stalwart Rik de Voest and booming server Izak van der Merwe both bowed out on a day of stunning and unpredictable momentum swings.

SA’s Izak van der Merwe upstaged Germany’s Benjamin Becker at the SA Open on Wednesday evening to progress to the second round.

It was one of those ”could have been worse, could have been better” draws for South Africa’s two Wimbledon tennis championships hopefuls.