News

Laingsburg Municipality

This year Laingsburg Municipality was fortunate to host the National Book Week event in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport and South African Book Development Council from 4-6 September 2017.

The launch was hosted in Matjiesfontein on 4 September 2017.  The day was a celebration of performances by local talent, Ashwin “Lyric” Hannes and the Kuierkraal Rieldancers. A roleplay was also done by the pupils of Matjiesfontein Primary School. The Program director was Alladin Smith also a resident from Matjiesfontein. The launch was a huge success.

The week was filled with various activities. Monday afternoon was activities with the children of Matjiesfontein. On Tuesday we visited the crèches in Laingsburg. Activities were done in the afternoon at Thusong Service Centre with the children of Laingsburg.  The Department of Cultural Affairs Sport MOD Centres arranged for the children to attend the afternoon. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports in Laingsburg hosted the Indigenous games the afternoon.

One of the highlights of National Book Week today: local residents of Laingsburg, Mr Connie and Mrs Eunice van der Westhuizen told learners about school life in the 1950s in Laingsburg; how they used slate (rock plates) and stones to write on in school. Learners were also told about indigenous plants such as the kambro (sweet potato). And of course about the Laingsburg Flood in 1981 that almost swept the entire town away. 

On Wednesday we visited the Old age home and Old age clubs in Laingsburg. Exciting moments for learners at the Baartmansfontein Primary School in Vleiland, a remote farming community near Laingsburg: Learners received their own books from Bhuki, the library mascot. This forms part of National Book Week's goal to provide learners from disadvantaged communities the opportunity to have their own books.