Panel tackles controversial issues

Over three days, Constitution Hill came alive with literary flair as the South African Book Fair took to its new home. From 6 to 8 September, the event boasted a vault of literacy-related issues that saw industry experts showcase work that entertained, educated and empowered – keeping in line with the fair’s mandate to spur a culture of reading in the country.

The final day rounded up fair’s riveting and controversial discussions on issues facing the country and the continent today.

A highlight of the day was Rebels, Rage and Revolution, a panel discussion which saw Wandile Ngcaweni and Sarah Mokwebo – the editors of a collection of essays by the students behind the Fees Must Fall movement – debate its meaning with the chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand, Adam Habib, and Oxford scholar Rekgotsofetse Chikane, who have both published books on the subject.

The discussion shed light on the manifestation and build-up of #FeesMustFall and how tertiary institutions sought to address the situation before it ultimately exploded.

“There was something in the air, there were enough bubbles happening across the system that were slightly out of the ordinary to the common pattern that had emerged over the last eight years – the protests were more frequent and substantive and that had happened throughout 2015,” Habib said.

Chikane added that there was a possibility of similar protests occurring in the future, although not in the same shape or form. He added that a lot of societal issues need to reach their #FeesMustFall moment.

“The country is stuck in a cycle and no one knows how to break out of it. Xenophobic attacks happen on cue, two to three years, in this country. When you look at the state of the country, I always argue that there are three major pillars and that if these three things don’t change then the country won’t change and they haven’t prominently changed since 1994 – that is youth unemployment, poverty and gender-based violence,” Chikane said.

Switching between fiction and non-fiction, the book fair also created a space for lighthearted and lively activities – from illustration exhibitions, live music, and the highly colourful Magic Tent – which was not only a hit with the young ones but the parents as well and featured acclaimed children’s author Refiloe Moahloli and illustrator Mogau Kekana.

“To be able to sit down and talk about stories is amazing because children are able to understand the world around them and you’re able to express and bring life to stories in different ways,” said Nokwazi Mkhwanazi, a Grade 1 teacher.

Related Article: 

https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/222581/loads-of-discussion-at-book-fair/