Staff members from Unisa Library and Information Services, Groenheuwel Public Library, and Drakenstein Municipality
On 10 September 2025, Unisa Library and Information Services (LIS), in collaboration with the Groenheuwel Public Library, hosted a vibrant celebration of National Book Week in Drakenstein Municipality of the Western Cape.
The annual celebration, observed from 5 to 11 September, seeks to promote reading, literacy, and a love of books across South Africa. This year’s event featured a Book Talk and the official launch of a Book Club, under the theme: “How to Write and Publish Fiction in Your Mother Tongue.”
Writing for purpose, writing for change
The event, filled with emotion and storytelling, was directed by William Boonzaaier and featured inspiring contributions from several distinguished guests. Calvin Moserake from Unisa’s Department of Music and Arts reflected on the significance of writing and publishing in one’s mother tongue, emphasising its role in cultural preservation and identity.
Delivering the keynote address, Haroldene Tshienda, acclaimed writer and publisher at Shofar Books, challenged the audience to view writing not only as a source of inspiration but also as a tool for personal and collective evolution. Sharing a deeply personal story, she demonstrated how growth can emerge even through pain. With several published works to her name, Tshienda remains committed to opening doors for aspiring authors, providing a platform that is all too rare in today’s publishing industry.
The storytelling legacy
The Book Talks and Book Clubs serve to advance literacy. Libraries are not just repositories of books, but dynamic community spaces that safeguard voices, struggles, and triumphs. The moderator, Jaques Du Toit, reminded the participants: “We may come from disfunction but that does not mean we come from emptiness”. Itumeleng Mpete shared that Unisa LIS has already launched five Book Clubs across different regions, reflecting its ongoing commitment to nurturing a culture of reading, dialogue, and storytelling.
The celebration of National Book Week reaffirmed the role of libraries as catalysts for cultural preservation, literacy development, and social change. By championing stories in indigenous languages and creating spaces for dialogue through Book Clubs, LIS and its partners continue to nurture a literary culture that reflects the heart and soul of communities.
A story unpublished is a voice unheard
The panel discussion was a heart-provoking, interactive brainstorming session, moderated by Du Toit. The panel members collectively delivered words of wisdom on the promotion of writing books in one’s mother tongue and continuing to educate children about the importance of communicating in their mother languages and being proud of it.
Fostering a reading culture in our communities
The event concluded with heartfelt remarks from Mpho Masingi from Unisa LIS. She expressed sincere gratitude to the Groenheuwel Public Library for its essential role in keeping community members engaged, off the streets, and ultimately saving lives. Masingi highlighted the library’s unwavering commitment to literacy and the preservation of indigenous languages, calling it both inspiring and invaluable. In her address, she urged attendees to embrace the new norm of speaking, owning, and living their mother tongue, reminding them that in doing so, they not only honour their heritage but also shape their identities and futures. She also acknowledged students and community members whose support enables LIS to deliver on Unisa’s catalytic niche areas underscoring the library’s vision of fostering education, culture, and empowerment.
* By Mpho Masingi and Kgaogelo Moeka, Unisa Library and Information Services
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