Thekgang NPC Champions New Era for South Africa’s Book Industry
Thekgang
NPC, working under the mandate of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
(DSAC), has officially launched the Book Publishing, Manufacturing and
Distribution Cluster which is a groundbreaking initiative designed to
strengthen South Africa’s creative economy. This cluster is one of 17 Cultural
and Creative Industries (CCI) clusters established to drive transformation and
sustainability across the sector.
At
its heart, the new cluster is about giving South African literature the
platform it deserves, while ensuring that stories reflect the diverse voices of
the nation. By bringing together authors, illustrators, publishers and
distributors, Thekgang aims to make books more accessible to all, especially
communities that have historically been left out of the publishing space.
Constituted as
a non-profit organisation, Thekgang NPC is focused on inclusivity, capacity
building and real transformation. Its goals include the following:
Leading
this bold initiative is a passionate Board of Directors: Founder and Chair
Terry-Ann Adams, Treasurer Lorraine Sithole, and Company Secretary and
spokesperson Melvin Kaabwe.
“Thekgang NPC is honoured to lead this
vital sectoral cluster on behalf of DSAC,” said Kaabwe. “Books are the
cornerstone of cultural expression and nation-building. Through this
initiative, we want to empower authors, uplift indigenous language publishing,
and open access to communities who have long been excluded from literature.”
Thekgang’s
strategy focuses on four key areas: building author capacity, transforming the
way local stories are consumed, supporting both emerging and established
talent, and growing markets through innovative distribution.
Already,
exciting projects are underway. These include a book value chain imbizo
in Kwa-Dukuza (Stanger), a collaboration with the Jacana Literary Foundation to
deliver a postgraduate Work Skills Programme on publishing indigenous language
poetry anthologies, and the launch of Thekgang Talking, an industry
podcast spotlighting voices from across the sector. Upcoming initiatives also
feature an Author Branding and Marketing workshop in the North West and the
distribution of indigenous language books to schools in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
With
these efforts, Thekgang NPC is positioning itself as a catalyst for change in
South Africa’s publishing landscape, fostering a vibrant, inclusive and
sustainable industry that not only supports creators but also ensures that
local stories reach every corner of the country.
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