Thekgang NPC, mandated by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), is proud to announce the launch of the Book Publishing, Manufacturing and Distribution Cluster, one of the 17 Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) clusters established to strengthen and transform South Africa’s creative economy.
The establishment of the Book Publishing, Manufacturing, and Distribution Cluster marks a critical step in uplifting and advancing the interests of stakeholders across the book value chain. Guided by DSAC’s mandate, the Cluster seeks to ensure that literature reflects the diversity of South Africa’s voices, while creating new opportunities for authors, illustrators, publishers, and distributors. At its core, the initiative is about making books more accessible to all communities, especially those that have historically been excluded from the publishing space.
The Book Publishing, Manufacturing and Distribution Cluster is constituted as Thekgang NPC, a non-profit organisation committed to promoting inclusivity and transformation in the sector. Among its objectives are to support South African authors, illustrators, and publishers by expanding access to book manufacturing and distribution; to facilitate resources and capacity-building programmes; to organise workshops, events, and promotional activities that showcase local literature; and to collaborate with partners to open new pathways for sustainable work opportunities in the book value chain.
The Cluster is led by a Board of Directors comprising Founder and Board Chair Terry-Ann Adams, co-founder and Treasurer Lorraine Sithole, and co-founder and Company Secretary Melvin Kaabwe, who also serves as spokesperson. “Thekgang NPC is honoured to lead this vital sectoral cluster on behalf of DSAC,” said Kaabwe. “We believe that books are a cornerstone of cultural expression and nation-building. Through this initiative, we aim to empower authors, strengthen indigenous language publishing, and create new pathways for literature to reach marginalised communities.”
The work of the organisation is underpinned by four key areas of intervention: building the capacity of authors to publish high-quality works, particularly in indigenous languages; transforming the consumption and appreciation of local stories; supporting emerging and established talent to share their work with wider audiences; and expanding markets through innovative distribution channels.
Already, the Book Publishing, Manufacturing and Distribution Cluster has begun rolling out projects that reflect this vision. These include an upcoming book value chain imbizo in Kwa-Dukuza, Stanger and a collaboration with the Jacana Literary Foundation to deliver a Work Skills Programme to publishing postgraduate students to research best practices for publishing poetry anthologies in indigenous languages. Thekgang will also be launching an industry podcast, Thekgang Talking, which features interviews from various actors in the sector. Upcoming activations include an Author Branding and Marketing workshop for authors in the North West and the distribution of indigenous language books at schools in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
Thekgang NPC exists to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable book sector that benefits South Africa’s broader creative industries. Under the mandate of DSAC’s Cultural and Creative Industries programme, the organisation is committed to advancing the vision of a transformed and accessible publishing landscape.
For more information, visit www.thekgang.org.za
