The MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, Ms Merriam Ramadwa, urged young pupils in the province to take education seriously by reading more books. “We encourage a culture of learning among the young people as reading books encourages norms and values,” said Ramadwa.

She was joined by Thulamela Mayor Grace Mahosi and members from Limpopo’s Pan South African Language Board during the Vhembe region’s World Book Day celebrations at the Thohoyandou Library last Wednesday.

According to her, her department has so far built 68 libraries and some of them are equipped with modern technology, such as computer centres. “We want our young pupils to develop reading clubs and not to waste time roaming the streets or abusing drugs.” She added that as communities and school learners celebrated World Book Day, they must also remembered some of the great authors of our own such as Vho-Dzivhani, Maumela, and Sigwavhulimu, among others. Some of their books have contributed to the struggle for liberation.

More than 100 young pupils from school such as Tshedza, Tshiluvhi and Phingalale took part in the celebrations and some of the pupils read from books in Tshivenda and XiTsonga.