The readathon will take place just 30 metres from Mandela House on the corner of Vilakazi and Mvubu Streets, Orlando West, Soweto, on the grounds of Phefeni Secondary School. It will conclude with an auction of the two copies of the book that will be read and signed on each section by the reader. Media personalities, politicians, struggle stalwarts, musicians, actors, artists, sport stars and writers are invited to join the readathon, which is estimated to last 32 hours.
“Our Mandela Day readathon supports the Department of Basic Education’s national Read to Lead campaign to foster a culture of reading amongst South Africans,” says Media24 chief executive Esmaré Weideman. “What better way to pay tribute to Madiba on his birthday than to read his story, in his words, in a place that meant home to him.
In Long Walk to Freedom, on his return to Orlando West after his release from prison in 1990, Mandela says, “That night I returned with Winnie to No. 8115 in Orlando West. It was only then that I knew in my heart I had left prison. For me, No. 8115 was the centre point of my world, the place marked with an X in my mental geography.”
Proceeds from the auction will fund a reading series developed by WeCan24, Media24’s flagship CSI educational programme, and educational publisher Via Afrika. The Golden Series, well known as Die Goue Reeks, formerly only available in Afrikaans will now be translated to English and later into more South African languages. This childhood classic, first published in 1968 and still used in many South African schools today, will be brought up to date and given a brand new look using new illustrations and the animated characters that make up the WeCan24 editorial team. The characters can be seen on the online school news platform www.wecan24.co.za. The series is aimed at foundation phase learners and will be distributed free of charge to schools nationwide.
Visitors to the 32-hour event on 17 and 18 July will be invited to leave their mark in the form of a handprint on the 67-metre cloth wall outside the venue. Furniture will be made from the fabric and donated to WeCan24 school media labs nationwide. For more information, click here.
