Masiphumelele adults called to join and enjoy new expanded public library

THE Adult Outreach Centre extension was opened by Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages (CCPB), the Rotary Club of Newlands (RCN), the Turok family, and the City yesterday (Thurs), at Mothapeng Road in Masiphumelele.

THE Adult Outreach Centre extension was opened by Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages (CCPB), the Rotary Club of Newlands (RCN), the Turok family, and the City yesterday (Thurs), at Mothapeng Road in Masiphumelele.

Published Nov 26, 2021

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Cape Town - Described an oasis in the settlement, the Masiphumelele Public Library has been expanded to accommodate adults.

The Adult Outreach Centre extension was opened yesterday by CocaCola Peninsula Beverages (CCPB), the Rotary Club of Newlands (RCN), the Turok family, and the City at Mothapeng Road, Masiphumelele.

The reading room and study area will enable small group teaching, group lectures and a study space that will be accessible after hours. Teaching programmes with an administrative service and supervisor will be available, where certificates will be issued after the completion of programmes by adults.

The late anti-apartheid activist and former MP Ben Turok and his wife played a pivotal role in the expansion, driven by a deep concern for the educational needs of the adult population in Masiphumelele.

Their son Ivan Turok said: “The vision was not just for the children, but also for adults to come and study and learn, to improve their capabilities and their competencies but also to discuss and to debate.

”It is not just sort of an individualised learning process. He (Ben) had a vision that this facility would help to bring people together, to talk to each other, to debate some of the challenges we face and what those solutions are to those challenges.”

Rotary Club of Newlands member John Winshop said the project cost around R1.75 million, offering accessibility to those with mobility impairments and special entrances for after hours use.

The library is managed by the City and built by non-profit organisation MasiCorp in 2003 as a satellite of the Fish Hoek Library and was first expanded in 2009.

Senior librarian Jacqueline Kwezi said the space will continue to provide skills development workshops for the youth and adults.

Guests will also be invited to bring opportunities for growth and development closer to the community, “as long as it has something to do with developing the community,” said Kwezi.

Poetry and storytelling sessions are also held for those over 60.

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