POLITICALLY AWEH: SA’s libraries under threat as cities look to unlock land value
With Cape Town looking to sell off the land under Camps Bay Library, and libraries shutting or standing half-demolished from Durban to Joburg, the fight for South Africa’s free spaces just got more urgent.
Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg are all experiencing a troubling trend as their cities consider selling the land beneath public libraries to spur private development. This move could threaten access to free spaces for the community. City officials in Cape Town propose selling the Camps Bay Library's land, valued at R63.45-million, to unlock potential revenue.
Meanwhile, Durban has permanently closed Musgrave Library despite finding funds for statues elsewhere. Seven Johannesburg libraries are currently closed and half-demolished. South Africa lags behind with 43% of households having no books at home, and many children cannot read for meaning, making libraries crucial in combating this reading crisis.
The City claims it owns the land and decides its fate, but residents should be involved in these decisions. However, engaging in the process can be daunting. To help, Ground Work Collective offers three steps: locate your ward councillor, attend council meetings, and obtain a library card. Ntuli emphasizes that a well-used library is less likely to be sold, and libraries thrive as active participants in democracy.
Strengthening democracy requires citizens to hold their politicians accountable, and acquiring a library card is a tangible way to exercise that involvement.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
