Book Week activities reshuffled due to strike

THE jam-packed Red Location Museum National Book week programme had to be moved yesterday because of safety concerns.

Organisers said the programme had had to be reorganised in the form of a roadshow because parents and exhibitors feared striking municipal workers would storm the venue.

The programme includes book discussions, a word-a-thon, specialised workshops by Zakes Mda and Deon Meyer, family literacy workshops, motivational talks by celebrity ambassadors including Bonnie Henna, authors' programmes, storytelling, reading tents and a praise-singing workshop by Zolani Mkiva.

South African Book Development Council chief executive Elitha van der Sandt said "the local labour union protest actions, which are unrelated to National Book Week, have resulted in concerns of safety, as raised by our partners and participants.