Local authors celebrated at Rabasotho Community Centre
Authors and NPO leaders unite under one roof to celebrate their hard work throughout the year.
The Second Trial Foundation, a nonprofit organisation, hosted the Celebration of Authors at the Rabasotho Community Centre on October 16.
The event aimed to celebrate books and authors at a time when writers are flourishing, sharing their work with a growing audience.
The foundation recognises a decline in the culture of reading in South Africa and is committed to finding ways to inspire a renewed interest in literature among young people, adults, and the broader community.
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The goal is not only to promote reading but also to encourage writing, creating a healthy relationship with books.
The event also highlighted the intersection of literature and business, as many authors are successful entrepreneurs.
It provided a platform for these writers to share their experiences and insights, inspiring others to pursue their own goals.
The organisation chose to host this event in the local community, rather than in town, to promote unity and celebrate the hard work of local authors and nonprofit leaders.
Solly Mankga, founder and host of the Second Trial Foundation, announced plans for future initiatives.
“As we approach the end of the year, we will be running workshops focused on helping people learn how to package their stories.
“If you want to tell your story, it should inspire others to take a stand and bring out the best in your readers.
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“We will conduct these workshops as pop-up events in various areas to promote a culture of storytelling.”
Mankga also emphasised the need to extend these efforts to prisons.
“We need to encourage inmates to read, empowering them with knowledge. This will ease their transition back into society, which can be challenging.
“Our interventions aim to ensure that even after their release, they can integrate successfully and avoid isolation.”
The event attracted a full house, with authors and nonprofit representatives from the local community and beyond.
Attendees enjoyed insightful presentations from speakers including Juanita Vorster from PSASA, Thato Matome from Thembisa Drugs Rehabilitation Centre, and Thulani Koaho from Izithelo ZeNkosi. Author Siyabonga Mthembu also joined the panel, contributing to an inspiring atmosphere where diverse stories were shared and celebrated.
