Don’t burn libraries during protests, communities urged

uMgungundlovu District Mayor Mzi Zuma has appealed to communities not to burn or vandalise libraries during service-delivery protests, warning that such actions destroy vital resources meant to uplift local residents. Zuma made the call as the country marked South African Library Week, saying libraries play a critical role in improving literacy, supporting pupils and giving communities access to information. He said while residents have the right to protest over poor service delivery, destroying public facilities, especially libraries, harms the very communities the protests are meant to help.

“Libraries are centres of knowledge and learning. When they are destroyed, it is our children and future generations who suffer the most,” Zuma said. He urged communities across the district to protect public infrastructure and to channel their frustrations through constructive engagement with government structures.

According to Zuma, libraries remain an important tool in addressing South Africa’s reading and literacy challenges, particularly in rural and under-resourced communities where many households do not have access to books or the internet. “Many pupils rely on libraries for schoolwork, access to computers and a quiet space to study. When these facilities are burned or damaged, young people lose opportunities to learn and grow,” he said.

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Zuma said the municipality and other spheres of government continue to invest in library services to support education and community development. Zuma said protecting libraries was essential to ensuring that communities continue to benefit from these spaces for education, research and personal development.

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