The Gauteng MEC for Education and Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture (SRAC), Matome Chiloane, together with Mogale City Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Lucky Sele, officially unveiled the newly revamped Kagiso Library on 17th March 2026. MEC Chiloane handed over the state-of-the-art facility to the community of Kagiso in a fanfare activity much to the appreciation of the residents, who have been waiting for more than a decade to have access to the library.
The facility which has set aside the provincial government and Mogale City Municipality over R14.5 million, is nestled just behind the Gauteng Archive Centre within the vicinity of the buzzling Kagiso business precinct, which encompassing the Kagiso Mall, Old Age Centre, Kagiso Magistrate and Police Station.
The library provides many amenities such kiddies playing and reading sections, computer laboratory fitted with high-speed internet and Wi-Fi, digital and braille reading books, automatic lending and self-service centre, amongst others.
MEC Chiloane said: “We as the Gauteng provincial government are more than happy to have partnered with Mogale City to officially open and handover this modern facility which the residents of Kagiso have been waiting to have access to,” Chiloane remarked.
“This initiative embraces the concept of future-ready libraries aligned with the fourth industrial revolution where access to digital tools is just as essential as access to information,” he added.Chiloane caution the community to look after the facility. He said it would be disheartening to see the facility being vandalised and that would deny learners access to knowledge and information.
Opened in March which is the Human Rights Month, a month where we honour those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for freedom, the library will stand as a bridge between our history and our future, above-all, it [library] will serves as a reflection on the progress made in protecting the rights and dignity of all.
Sele said: “We’re proud as Mogale City to handover the facility to the residents of Kagiso. The community has waited so long and thanks the provincial government having intervened to empower us to realise our dream.“We want to thank everyone who made this day a success, and this goes to our learners as they will not travel long distances to have access to knowledge and information.”
Mogale City Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for SRAC, Cynthia Mankazana and Speaker of Council, Doreen David were elated and encouraged senior citizens visiting the nearby Old Age Centre to also make use of the facility.
The event also created enabling environment for local writers, publishers and authors to showcase their skills. Some of the writers include Linda Khumalo, Busisiwe Nkonyane and Thabile Mange. Mange has over ten books that he has authored and published.
Sipho None
Soweto Sunrise News
