The City of Johannesburg Library and Information Services (CoJ LIS), in partnership with the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA), welcomed over 200 guests as the host of the 2025 South African Digital Literacy Day (SADLD) on the 23rd October 2025, at the Brixton Multipurpose Hall in Mayfair West, Johannesburg. This annual event, now in its second year, is celebrated during the UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week, and it was the only event listed for South Africa under the UNESCO GMIL world events.
Under the theme “Libraries Providing Access to Digital Tools and Building Safer Digital Communities,” SADLD 2025 was to showcase how libraries from different sectors serve as vital hubs for digital empowerment through the availability of digital tools and digital content, such as computers, free wifi, e-books, and online courses.
A diverse community that had benefited from digital programs in libraries was invited and included the elderly, school learners, people living with disabilities, and youth. School learners and librarians enjoyed exhibitions and demos on digital technologies such as AR-VR, Educational Technology, and Esports by invited partners; Goethe Institute, Nudle, WeThinkCode, and Press Reader, among others. High school learners were engaged in debates based on articles they had read on the role of libraries, AI, online safety, and a digital reading competition using tablets and the Google Readalong app for primary school learners.
Among the guest speakers were LIASA President Select Prof Lefose Makgahlela, who provided opening remarks about the purpose of SADLD and the value of digital literacy in the digital economy, Google Communications and public affairs manager, Mr Siya Madikane, who introduced Gemini AI opportunities for students, Mr Ian Greenspan, Head of IT and Systems from African Tikkun-a Microsoft Partner, who shared the role of digital literacy and online courses, and Constable Hadebe, representing the South African Police Services, who conducted awareness on cybercrimes. Director of City of Johannesburg Libraries, Ms Nobuntu Mpendulo, expressed the importance of collaborations and thanked the communities for valuing libraries and digital programs introduced to them.
The SADLD was celebrated in collaboration with the National Library of South Africa through a crossover for a live online showcase of various digital skills programs that were submitted by library services from different provinces that participated in the SADLD competition. Provinces that submitted remarkable digital skills projects were North West, Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Free State, and Gauteng, with some of the submissions coming from more than one municipality, and including academic library services. The event closed with the awarding of Microsoft Certificates to twenty youth beneficiaries from Phiri Library in Soweto. Joburg Libraries’ e-learning services will produce a long-form video that will showcase all the submitted videos and images from all provinces.
Having learnt from this year’s pilot competition, the 2026 SADLD will be celebrated with another competition, with clear guidelines, terms, and conditions, and libraries will have more time to participate and submit evidence
Author: Jeff Nyoka
eLearning Manager City of Joburg Libraries
LIASA Board Member