A new library at Katlehong Primary School marks a milestone for a South African literacy initiative that combines reading spaces, books, technology and trained support staff.
GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA — For children learning to read, a library can be much more than a room filled with books. It can offer a quiet place to explore stories, practice reading, ask questions and gain confidence. On 27 October 2026, the DP World & Motus Community Trust marked the opening of its 100th school library at Katlehong Primary School in Gauteng.
The milestone represents years of investment in school libraries and reading support in underserved communities. According to the Trust, more than 230,000 learners have benefited from its literacy programme over time, while its libraries now reach approximately 125,000 learners each day. These are figures reported by the organization, not independently audited outcomes.
Why early reading support matters
South Africa faces significant challenges in foundational literacy. The Department of Basic Education’s Funda Uphumelele National Survey, launched in November 2025 after assessing approximately 28,000 learners across 710 schools, found that only around three in ten learners in Grades 1–3 met the relevant home-language reading benchmarks. The survey also reported that 15% of Grade 3 learners could not read a single word in the assessment.
These national figures do not measure the impact of any one charity’s programme. They do, however, explain why accessible reading resources and sustained learning support matter.
What makes the libraries more than book collections?
The Trust says its libraries combine dedicated reading and study areas with books, technology and a full-time, trained librarian assistant. The assistants help learners find appropriate materials and participate in a structured programme focusing on early reading and comprehension, particularly during Grades 1–3.
That emphasis matters: learning to recognize words is only part of literacy. Children also need opportunities to understand what they read and apply that knowledge in other subjects.
The latest opening at Katlehong Primary School has been welcomed by school leadership. Reporting from the opening identifies principal Ben Sidwaba as among those celebrating the new learning resource at a school serving roughly 1,720 learners.
A long-running partnership
The initiative traces its origins to a community development trust established in 2003 by Hafiz Mahomed and the late Bill Lynch, initially with a focus on mathematics and science support. Its work subsequently shifted toward reading and literacy, with libraries becoming central to its education efforts from 2010.
Partners associated with the programme include Europcar, Hyundai, Renault and the YES4Youth initiative. In addition to supporting learners, librarian assistant positions create opportunities for employment, training and professional development. The Trust reports that some former assistants have progressed into teaching and education leadership roles.
What the milestone shows — and what remains to be measured
Opening 100 libraries is a substantial infrastructure achievement. However, the number of libraries and learners reached should not be confused with a measured improvement in reading proficiency. Establishing the programme’s long-term effects would require consistent assessment data, comparisons and follow-up.
Still, the project illustrates a constructive principle: supporting literacy takes more than a one-time donation of books. It also takes people, reading guidance, suitable spaces and collaboration over time.
For thousands of children, an inviting library may be the place where reading starts to become a habit — and where a new world of possibilities begins to open.
More stories of progress
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Sources: News release supplied to NewsPositive for editorial consideration by Sheila Ramufhufhi on behalf of the initiative; Engineering News, 28 October 2026; South African Department of Basic Education: Funda Uphumelele National Survey; DP World & Motus Community Trust library programme.
Editorial note: Programme-reach figures and accounts of educational progress are attributed to the Trust; they are not independently verified measures of learning gains. Featured photograph is illustrative and does not show the Katlehong Primary School opening. Photo by Far Chinberdiev / Unsplash.
