In celebration of World Book and Copyright Day on 23 to 24 April 2025 the University of South Africa Library and Information Services (Unisa LIS) hosted two dynamic events that highlighted the power of books, the relevance of copyright in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), and the importance of language, identity and community.
On the 23 April the day featured an AI Copyright Workshop at the Pretoria Muckleneuk Campus and on the 24 April a Book Talk at the Kagiso Library in Krugersdorp, co-hosted by the Unisa Gauteng Region and Mogale City Library Services.
Prof Mpho Ngoepe
At the Pretoria campus, Prof Mpho Ngoepe officially opened the AI Copyright Workshop, framing the day with thought-provoking insights, rooted in African wisdom. “If you have never left your mother’s kitchen, you will think that she is the best cook,” Prof Ngoepe said, encouraging participants to expand their intellectual horizons. World Book and Copyright Day invites us to explore new ideas, learn from others, and reflect on how we share and protect knowledge in the age of artificial intelligence.
He reminded the audience of the enduring power of stories to bridge generations, and the importance of navigating copyright and intellectual property with the same wisdom that governs oral traditions. The workshop brought together academics, legal experts, librarians and students to unpack the legal, ethical and academic implications of AI-generated content.
Workshop in motion
Ms Moipone Motshoane, a Unisa LLM candidate, spoke about the double-edged nature of digital tools.
“Total reliance on AI-generated work is an academic assault that erodes critical thinking,” she cautioned. “Although technology provides access, it must be used ethically.”
The international guest speaker, Gemma Robson, a Microsoft-certified AI specialist, joined the event virtually from the United Kingdom. She highlighted flaws in traditional plagiarism detection systems and urged institutions to consider new approaches.
“We must rethink evaluations. AI transparency statements and oral defences are among the tools we can adopt to ensure fairness,” she said, sharing the story of a student who was falsely accused of AI-enabled plagiarism due to a system error.
Adding a legal perspective, Advocate JAD Peijper, Director of Unisa Legal Services, provided clarity on how South Africa’s laws already accommodate AI under the current Copyright Act.
“AI is not the monster in the room; it is a tool, like a camera or a typewriter,” he said. “When referenced ethically, it becomes an asset, not a threat.”
Books, language and identity: The Kagiso Book Talk
On 24 April 2024, at the Kagiso Library in Krugersdorp, the celebration unfolded in the form of a lively book talk, bringing together local authors, Unisa staff, students and community members. Mr Victor Mbuqe, Manager of Library and Information Services in the Unisa Gauteng region, set the tone for the event with the statement: “We are here to remind one another about the importance of reading and writing. Books are not just vessels of knowledge; they are mirrors of our own lives.”
Mr Victor Mbuqe
A highlight of the day was the performance of ‘The Voice in the Book’ by the Unisa Library Book Club, a play performed in Tshivenda, Xitsonga and Sepedi. It told the story of two students reconnecting with their roots through the spirit of their ancestral grandmother. Forging your language is like forgetting your own story, the play proclaimed, stirring powerful emotional reactions from the audience.
Mr Otshepeng Moletsane, a lecturer at the Unisa Department of African Languages, proudly shared his journey of completing his doctoral degree in Setswana: “We must stop believing that English is the only language of success,” he said. “Our mother tongues are powerful, valid tools of scholarship and storytelling.”
Dr Nthabiseng Raduvha, Assistant Manager of Library and Information Services at the Kagiso Library, shared how books helped them through their personal struggles. She indicated, “Through reading, I realised that I had been emotionally abused. The books gave me language for my pain and the courage to heal.”
Mr Victor Mbuque, Mr Otshepeng Moletsane, Ms Pemla Ditsele, Cllr Nyakalo Segapelo,Dr Nthabiseng Raduvha
The event also celebrated the strengthening partnership between Unisa and Mogale City, which provides public access to Unisa’s academic resources through local libraries. Community leaders called on attendees to preserve and promote African languages through writing and storytelling.
“Let us make writing in African languages fashionable,” urged Councillor Nyakalo Segapelo. “Support our authors. Let us make books a regular part of our homes.”
Whether through legal clarity or cultural storytelling, both events embodied the vision of Unisa LIS of libraries as centres for ethical innovation, community empowerment, and lifelong learning. As South Africa prepares to position libraries as innovation hubs, under its 2025 G20 presidency, the Unisa celebration stood as a model of how tradition and technology can work together to build inclusive knowledge societies.
*By Itumeleng Mpete, Marketing Coordinator, Library and Information Services
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