Libraries have been centres  of learning, renders a public good  by providing a safe place for citizens to work and exchange knowledge. The Mobi-Readathon is a  program that has used this important space to support both reading and digital skills development for High School pupils. This program initially started as a local initiatives for  schools throughout the City of Joburg, but it has become a national initiatives where teachers and learners may enter through their local municipality.

The program has developed a dedicated website for learners to register for the competition, download stories, and quiz to schools to use. The Mobireadathon Competition attracted entries from 5 provinces and reached at least 1900 learners and hoping to encourage more schools to enter their pupils for the 2025 edition. In this hour, we will speak to the stakeholders of this programme about the role of Public Libraries in our municipalities,  growing a culture of reading from an early age, the theme of this yeaMobi-Readathon: online safety and how schools can enter. We are joined by… 

Guest (Telephone): Jeff Nyoka - Manager for E-Learning Services in City of Joburg Libraries

 Guest: Catherine Bothma - Manager at the Pick n Pay School Club (The main sponsor of the Mobi-Readathon)

 Guest: Nokuthula Musa - Executive Director for Core Progams at the National Libraries of South Africa