For too many younger South Africans, the straightforward act of opening a e-book stays out of attain. Because the nation works to shut persistent gaps in early-grade literacy, entry to books, applicable studying assets and protected, devoted areas to learn may also help unlock a lifetime of risk.
The necessity is evident. The Division of Fundamental Training’s Funda Uphumelele Nationwide Survey, launched in November 2025, discovered that solely round 30% of learners in Grades 1–3 are assembly studying benchmarks of their dwelling language. Much more regarding, 15% of Grade 3 learners couldn’t learn a single phrase—a stark reminder that the foundations of future studying have to be strengthened from the very starting.
In opposition to this backdrop, the DP World and Motus Neighborhood Belief has opened its a hundredth college library on 27 October 2026—a milestone that represents greater than a decade of sustained funding in literacy, studying and hope in underserved communities.
For Ockert Janse van Rensburg, Motus Chief Government Officer, the importance of the milestone lies within the lasting change every library can encourage: “Creating entry is a crucial first step, however lasting outcomes stem from creating environments the place learners really feel snug utilizing this entry and making use of it to enhance their future prospects.”
This journey was born out of the Group’s relationship with Ukhamba Holdings. In 2003, Hafiz Mahomed and the late Invoice Lynch established the Imperial and Ukhamba Neighborhood Growth Belief with an preliminary deal with enhancing arithmetic and science ends in township colleges. Over time, the Belief recognised a deeper want: earlier than learners may thrive in these topics, they wanted the literacy abilities to know, have interaction and picture what was potential.
That perception sparked a shift in the direction of literacy and studying with comprehension, with libraries and useful resource centres turning into a central a part of the Belief’s schooling programme from 2010.
Right now, every library is a spot the place curiosity can take root, reaching 125,000 learners day-after-day. Learners achieve entry to books, know-how and devoted areas for studying, analysis and research. A educated, full-time librarian assistant is there to information them, assist them use these assets with confidence and nurture an enduring tradition of studying and studying.
Central to this work is a well-established studying programme facilitated by the librarian, which teaches foundational literacy abilities to learners in Grades 1–3. The programme has yielded enhancements in studying for which means, guaranteeing that learners not solely study to learn, however to know the content material as effectively.
For Hafiz Mahomed, Chairman of the DP World and Motus Neighborhood Belief, the a hundredth library is a robust reminder of what affected person, purposeful funding could make potential: “What started as a part of a Broad-Based mostly Black Financial Empowerment transaction in 2003 has grown into certainly one of South Africa’s most enduring and sustainable literacy programmes. Behind every of those 100 libraries stands a college, a neighborhood, a era of learners and a workforce of devoted educators who imagine that books, correctly chosen and correctly used, and a conducive surroundings can change a baby’s trajectory.”
The affect now reaches far past the library partitions. Greater than 230,000 learners have benefited from the programme, whereas surrounding communities have gained new alternatives too. Librarian assistant roles present younger individuals with employment and abilities improvement prospects, and a few former assistants have gone on to turn into lecturers and heads of division—extending the programme’s legacy into the following era.
This enduring affect has been made potential by way of collaboration. The DP World and Motus Neighborhood Belief has labored alongside companions together with Europcar, Hyundai and Renault, in addition to the YES4Youth programme. Along with the governance and oversight of the trustees, these partnerships have saved the programme targeted on significant, long-term change.
For Janse van Rensburg, the size of the funding issues as a result of it’s inseparable from Motus’ core function: Mobility for Good. “Motus is an organisation deeply rooted in South Africa. By this initiative, we’re investing in assets, individuals, and partnerships as a result of we imagine sustained entry to literacy may also help create alternatives that can affect the lives of people, households, communities and, in the end, our nation.”
The a hundredth library is way over a quantity. It represents hundreds of younger lives given room to learn, study and dream—and exhibits what is feasible when sustained funding, dedicated companions and a shared perception in social upliftment come collectively for South Africa’s future.
