Arts and Culture Deputy Minister, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, MP, in partnership with the Deputy Minister of Correctional Services, Mr Thabang Makwetla will officially open the 5th Funda Mzantsi Championship on Monday, 6 October 2014, at the George Civic Centre in George, Western Cape.
This initiative is spearheaded by the Centre for the Book, an Outreach Unit of the National Library of South Africa responsible for promoting reading, writing and publishing in all local languages and ensuring access to books. One of the key focus areas is to establish book clubs in schools, communities and correctional services in order to inculcate a culture of book reading targeting youth.
In 2010, the Centre for the Book started the first Funda Mzantsi Championship which is a national competition whereby book clubs compete in different categories such as reading and reviewing. Since 2013 to date, the Funda Mzantsi Championship was hosted in partnership with the Department of Correctional Services.
The Funda Mzantsi Championship will take place from 6-8 October 2014, under the theme: “Developing Creative Minds: Celebrating 20 Years of Democracy: Tell your story that moves South Africa forward”.
A total of 500 people are expected to attend the championship including officials from the three spheres of Government, Correctional Services inmates and Schools’ Book Clubs from different regions across the country.
Media is invited to attend the opening ceremony as follows:
Date: 6 October 2014
Time: 14:00
Venue : George Civic Centre, George, Western Cape
RSVP:
Tel: 012 441 3713
079 311 8546
ObedM@dac.gov.za
Enquiries:
Peter Mbelengwa, Spokesperson for the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture
Cell: 082 611 8197
E-mail: petermb@dac.gov.za
Ntime Skhosana, Spokesperson for the Deputy Minister of Correctional Services
Cell: 082 496 6875
E-mail: Ntime.Skhosana@dcs.gov.za
