Arts and Culture Minister, Mr Nathi Mthethwa will launch the 5^th Annual National Book Week under the theme, ‘Going Places’ on Friday, 29 August 2014 at Emoyeni Conference Centre in Parktown, Johannesburg. The launch aims to shed more light on this years’ theme and outline nation-wide multi-faceted localised programmes to mark the fifth annual reading campaign in South Africa that will take place on 1–7 September 2014. This is in line with the Department of Arts and Culture’s mandate of promoting the culture of reading and writing.

Also as part of National Book Week Launch, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister, Ms Rejoice Mabhudafhasi will launch the Twenty in 20 series, a Twenty Years of Freedom initiative aimed at identifying the best South African short stories published during the past two decades of democracy. Members of the media are invited to attend.

The event is scheduled as follows:

Date       : 29 August 2014

Time       : 10h00-13h00

Venue     :Emoyeni Conference Centre, 15 Jubilee Road, Parktown, Johannesburg,

RSVP : Madimetja Moleba: Madimetjam@dac.gov.za: 012 441 3737/072 842 6594

Media enquiries     : Sandile Memela: 082 800 3750

                              : Peter Mbelengwa: 082 611 8197