About the South African Book Fair

The SABF is the culmination of South Africa’s National Book Week and is celebrated annually in the first week of September.

Providing a unique opportunity for promotion and trade, the South African Book Fair is made up of key elements including an Exhibition, a Literary Festival, a children’s programme, a story festival and more.

The SABF is an opportunity for the book publishing industry to brand and position itself as a relevant, inclusive and important part of South Africa and Africa’s development.

With a focus on providing a strong platform for the book industry, the South African Book Fair has the following broad objectives:

• Forge and promote partnerships across the industry, both locally and continentally
• Showcase books, authors and industry in general
• SMME and Entrepreneurial development
• Enterprise and Skills development across the value chain
• Lively, captivating literary festival
• Promote a reading culture and increase access to books

Achmat Dangor, Mandla Langa and Victoria Collis-Buthelezi critically examine the presidency of Nelson Mandela and the challenges he faced in leading the first democratic government during the 2017 SABF. This session was moderated by Verne Harris. In association with the Nelson Mandela Foundation.