SA’s biggest book reading competition in its 14th year in George

South Africa’s biggest book reading competition is taking place in George, Western Cape, for the 14th year.

The Funda Mzantsi Championship is hosted by the Department of Correctional Services in collaboration with the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture through the National Library of South Africa and George Municipality.

The competition cultivates a love for reading. Hundreds of participants including inmates, learners and community book clubs compete annually.

Participants are assessed in impromptu reading, debating, spelling bee and book reviewing.

Inmates Michelle Nadasen from the Westville Correctional Centre in KZN and Muzi Nhangulela from the Klerksdorp Correction Centre in the North West are among the participants.

“This year the competition is more tough, there’s more improvement. It’s helped even the prisons because you can teach others by coming on this trip,” says Nadasen.

Nhangulela adds, “As you do a review, you realise that two minutes can get you so far. Some of the things we’ve done it was two minutes of our lives and it impacted us in such a big way. It shows that if I can manage two minutes of my life, I can be a better person.”

Inmates, learners and community book clubs compete annually