The Mpumalanga Provincial Social Protection, Community and Human Development Cluster celebrated International Literacy Day 2026 at Siphumelele Secondary School in White-Hazy Circuit on September 8.

This was done under the theme, “Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity”.

The celebration reinforced an important message that promoting literacy is a shared responsibility across government, families, communities and society.

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Through the Social Cluster Integrated Outreach Programme, the departments of education, health, social development, and culture, sport and recreation worked together to bring services closer to the community through health screening, social development services, education and cultural programmes, as well as sport and recreation activities.

Creating a reading culture at home

The event highlighted the importance of creating a reading culture at home. Children learn from what they see.

When parents and caregivers read, children are more likely to see reading as a natural and valuable part of everyday life.

The cluster encouraged communities to embrace reading for meaning and reading for leisure, while recognising the role of reading in developing critical thinking, creativity, confidence, knowledge and lifelong learning.

MEC donates books and uniforms

The MEC for Education, Lindi Masina, donated books, school uniforms and school shoes to learners from Siphumelele Secondary School, Phola Secondary School and Mzimba Primary School.

With partners including Book Hive, the House of Traditional Leaders, education sector unions and the Moral Regeneration Movement, the celebration demonstrated the power of partnerships in advancing literacy and building a culture of reading.

Literacy essential for health and social development

Department of Education spokesperson Gerald Sambo said that in healthcare, limited literacy can make it difficult for people to understand health information, prescriptions, treatment instructions, consent forms and information about prevention and healthy lifestyles.

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Sambo added that in social development, literacy is important for people to access information about government programmes, understand their rights and responsibilities, complete forms, navigate services and participate meaningfully in interventions intended to improve their livelihoods.