The Funda Mzantsi championship is a joint project of the Department of Correctional Services and the National Library of South Africa, that seeks to enhance South Africans' reading habits. It seeks to foster a culture of reading, advance South Africa's linguistic diversity and literacy, and inspire all citizens to read, write, speak, and value the opinions of others.
Participants from any registered book club from high schools, the community, universities and the Department of Correctional Services compete in this annual, national competition.
The participants can compete in any of the 11 South African languages, with a minimum of three and a maximum of five languages per book club. The categories are reading (impromptu), spelling bee, debate and book reviews and critical analysis.
The Sarah Baartman ladies competed in the following categories:
English - impromptu reading, spelling bee, book review and debate
Xitsonga - impromptu reading, spelling bee and debate
IsiXhosa - impromptu reading, spelling bee and debate
Isizulu - spelling bee
The competition took place in George, from 3 to 7 October 2022.
Book club members (left to right): Sheron Ngobeni, Nontokozo Mabaso, Onesipho Nelani, Siphosethu Jwaqu (Coordinator), Noluthando Ngoqo, Nsovo Masingi (Founder and Xitsonga debate 2nd place winner).