Cape Flats Book Festival draws 2 500 book lovers for weekend of stories and learning

The Cape Flats Book Festival was buzzing with activity over the weekend as 2 500 people gathered for a packed programme featuring 120 authors, poets, and creatives.

The Plainsman joined crowds moving between workshops, panel discussions, and children’s storytelling sessions across the venue, with families, pupils, and aspiring writers filling the spaces ("Fifth annual Cape Flats Book Festival returns to Mitchell’s Plain" Plainsman January 9).

Roscoe Williams, programme director of the festival, said this year’s event was a great success.

“Two thousand five hundred people attended, and lots of people said they had a great time,” he said.

Lisa Witten, an author from Pinelands, shared her book on neurodiversity, inspired by her daughter, who has autism.

She said she aims to create awareness in homes and schools about what makes neurodiversity unique.

“This festival is an amazing initiative, especially for those who want to start writing,” she said.

True crime author Nicole Engelbrecht hosted a writing workshop on Saturday, January 31, where she spoke about the ethics of the genre. She said she does not write for popularity and that ethical considerations are central to her work, even if they do not always align with what publishers want.

“Practice makes good. The more you do it, the better you’ll be,” she said.

Ms Engelbrecht emphasised that she is not a journalist and warned aspiring writers not to make things up in true crime. She focuses on solved South African cases and makes it clear when she is sharing opinion rather than fact.

Elma Faro, from Rondevlei Park, attended children’s sessions with her daughter, Jaelynne Faro. They enjoyed reading the late Diana Ferrus’s book, The Boy Who Loved to Dance. Jaelynne said she enjoyed the Pumpkin Series and learnt a lot from the sessions.

Jemma Thyssen from Westridge attended the festival with her mother, Candice Thyssen. She came specifically to buy books by authors Bianca Flanders and Lauren O'Connor-May, who had visited Parkhurst Primary School to promote their work and the festival on Thursday, January 29.

Author, rapper, and philanthropist Emile YX? attended with his crew, Heal the Hood Project and Black Noise Next Generation. He spoke about using art to create solutions for young people and encouraged pupils to see creativity as a tool for entrepreneurship.

Ricardo Mackenzie, MEC for Cultural Affairs and Sport, said the festival plays an important role in communities.

“The Cape Flats Book Festival is a space where young people see themselves reflected in stories, where local writers are affirmed, and where reading becomes a tool for empowerment and opportunity," he said.

The festival brings together authors, poets, teachers, and readers to engage in meaningful conversations around identity, language, history, and social change, he said.

“By hosting events within communities, the festival helps to break down barriers to access and nurtures a love of reading among youth and emerging writers," he said.

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