Pretoria – Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga will on Monday address the official library handover at Thlasedi Primary School in Gauteng as part of Mandela Day activities.
“The importance of the role of libraries and reading in academic achievement cannot be overemphasised. Libraries are seen as a key lever in education achievements, providing access to reading materials, space for reading and pursuance of literacy endeavours,” the department said.
The department said libraries are essential to the promotion of reading and almost critical to the improvement of literacy.
In May 2015, Minister Motshekga announced in her Budget Speech that one of the key priorities of the department would be a key focus on reading promotion and central to this would be the provision of library and information services.
Clear Rivers campaign
Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Pamela Tshwete, together with the Mhlathuze Water Board and officials, will participate in the Clear Rivers campaign in Eskhawini, KwaZulu-Natal.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is leading a campaign of clearing streams, wetlands, rivers and others forms of freshwater ecosystems.
“Linking this campaign to Mandela Month is in line with the call by the President in the State of the Nation Address of 2014… All South Africans, in the spirit of volunteerism, should dedicate 67 minutes towards cleaning South Africa,” the department said.
It has encouraged institutions and communities to participate in the campaign by cleaning up a stream, river, wetland or any other freshwater ecosystem in their environment.
Meanwhile, Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson will commemorate Nelson Mandela Day at Tlhaping Early Learning Centre in Ganyesa, North West. Later on Monday, the Minister will interact with the community of Ganyesa during an imbizo on issues of service delivery, with a focus on the electrification programme of the Department of Energy.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister Fatima Chohan will celebrate Mandela Day by spending 67 minutes at Maitland Cottage Orthopaedic Children’s Hospital in Newlands.
She will visit patients and make a donation of basic necessities required by the hospital for the benefit of the children. – SAnews.gov.za
