Arts and Culture Deputy Minister, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi together with the Centre for the Book (An outreach unit for the National Library of South Africa) and the MEC of Limpopo Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Nandi Ndalane will lead the Door-to-Door Reading Campaign, World Book and Copyright Day celebrations on Thursday, 21 and Friday, 22 April at Vhembe and Sekhukhune districts respectively under the theme, “My Treasure, My Story”.

The theme highlights that when one reads a book, one accumulates treasure of mind, knowledge, skills and understanding.

The World Book Day Celebrations will amongst others seek to raise awareness about the importance of books and reading; reach out and give people access to books; educate citizenry on the significance of safeguarding their libraries as well as to celebrate authors of the books.

23 April is a symbolic date for world literature which was earmarked since 1616, commemorating Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega death. This day also marks the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as William Shakespeare, Maurice Druon, Haldor K. Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo. It was a natural choice for the UNESCO's General Conference, held in Paris in 1995, to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date. This is to encourage everyone especially youth, to discover the pleasure of reading and to gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity. In this respect, UNESCO created both the World Book and Copyright Day and the UNESCO Prize for Children's and Young People's Literature in the Service of Tolerance.

The celebrations will be held as follows:

Day One: Door-to-Door Reading Awareness Campaign. More than 3500 books including South African literary classics will be donated to Muthuhadini Combined school, Alusani Pre-School, Rivoni Special School, Elim Care of the aged and identified households to promote reading awareness.
Date    : Thursday, 21 April 2016
Time   : 07h30
Venue : Muthuhadini Combined School,  Elim-Mpheni Village.

Day Two: World Book and Copyright Day celebrations
Date    : Friday, 22 April 2016
Time   : 10h00
Venue : Fetakgomo Hall, Sekhukhune

For RSVP: Jermina Kaka: (015) 284 4321 or 082 560 7197 or kakaj@sac.limpopo.gov.za or Muponisi Nkuna: (012) 401 9711 or 083 471 0061 or muponisi.nkuna@nlsa.ac.za or Madimetja Moleba: 012 441 3737/ 072 842 6594 madimetjam@dac.gov.za

Media Enquiries: Peter Mbelengwa: 082 611 8197 or petermb@dac.gov.za or Kola Maila: 082 904 0262 or mailak@sac.limpopo.gov.za