The event started at 2pm, with individuals silently reading in different locations around the entrance to the Johannesburg City Library, followed by the unveiling of posters calling on all to support Literacy Day and the Readathon. Lizelle Langford of READ Educational Trust welcomed all and during the rest of the day, Hlubi Mboya, Thato Tholo and Raiz Adries (a learner) spoke on the importance of reading and there was a poetry performance by Ntsiki Mazwai. It was described as a successful event, with everyone having fun.
READ's Literacy Week is all part of the Readathon programme, a concept that has been going strong in South Africa for 23 years. Its aim is to bring the skill and love of reading to the public and to encourage schools to entrench reading as a daily practice.
