The Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, MP and Gauteng Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC, Ms Molebatsi Bopape, in conjunction with The Centre for the Book (an outreach unit for the National Library of South Africa) invite media to the World Book Day celebration.
World Book and Copyright Day (also known as International Day of the Book or World Book Day) is a yearly event celebrated on 23 April, initiated by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright. The connection between 23 April and books was first made in 1923 by booksellers in Catalonia, Spain as a way to honour the author Miguel de Cervantes who died on that day. This became a part of the celebrations of the Saint George's Day (also 23 April).
In 1995 UNESCO decided that World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on this date because of the Catalonian festival and because the date is also the anniversary of the birth and death of William Shakespeare.
All members of the media are invited to the World Book Day Celebration as follows:
Door to Door Reading Campaign
Date: Wednesday, 22 April 2015
Time: 07h00
Venue: Greenspark Community Library, Fochville, Merafong Municipality
World Book Day Celebration
Date: Thursday, 23 April 2015
Venue: Boksburg Civic Centre, Ekurhuleni
Time: 09h00
Please RSVP to:
Mr Mandla Mona
Tel: +27 (0)12 401 9738
Cell: +27 (0)83 734 2494
Fax: +27 (0)12 326 7642
E-mail: mandla.mona@nlsa.ac.za
For media enquiries please contact:
Mr Muponisi Nkuna
Tel: +27 (0)12 401 9711
Cell: +27 (0)83 471 0061
E-mail: muponisi.nkuna@nlsa.ac.za
Mr Peter Mbelengwa (Spokesperson for the Deputy Minister)
Cell: 082 611 8197
Email: petermb@dac.gov.za
