Learners from Philippi were thrilled when City of Cape Town mayor Dan Plato visited Brown’s Farm Library on Thursday last week.
Plato visited the library a day after the schools opened to encourage learners to focus on their studies, to read and stay away from the streets.
He described his visit as part of the back to school campaign, which includes all the City’s libraries in the metro. The learners also had an opportunity to read stories for the mayor.
Siyanda Witbooi (11) said he was delighted to see the mayor and described his visit as motivational.
“The mayor encouraged us to focus on our books and to stop doing negative things on the streets. He also urged us to use the library effectively and to protect it.”
Plato said he was impressed with how the library was operating and its standards.
“This week sees thousands of Grade one learners enter through the school gates for the first time. I want to make sure they know about the amazing services that are available to them at our libraries and that they use the libraries to improve their knowledge and get good grades.
“In 12 years time, I want to see these learners walk through the gates of a university or a college and continue on their journey towards securing a better future for themselves,” said Plato.
He said the City’s libraries complement the work done at schools and tertiary institutions and for many young people it’s the only quiet or safe space to study.
Plato said the City has 104 libraries and urged parents to support their children in making use of them.
Ntombegugu Mpofu, the head of the library at Brown’s Farm, said they felt honoured with the mayoral visit.
She emphasised, however, that they have a challenge of learners not returning the borrowed books on time, which affects other learners who depend on the services to study or do their homework.
“Also the mayor was impressed to see the learners reading in IsiXhosa and English fluently because this is what we are encouraging as librarians; that they should read every day,” said Mpofu.
