The Department of Basic Education's Funda Uphumelele National Survey, released in November 2025, found that only around 30% of learners in Grades 1 to 3 are meeting reading benchmarks in their home language. Even more concerning, 15% of Grade 3 learners could not read a single word— a stark reminder that the foundations of future learning must be strengthened from the very beginning.

Against this backdrop, the DP World and Motus Community Trust has opened its 100th school library on Tuesday, 27 October — a milestone that represents more than a decade of sustained investment in literacy, learning and hope in underserved communities.

For Ockert Janse van Rensburg, Motus Chief Executive Officer, the significance of the milestone lies in the lasting change each library can inspire: "Creating access is an important first step, but lasting outcomes stem from creating environments where learners feel comfortable using this access and applying it to improve their future prospects."

This journey was born out of the Group’s relationship with Ukhamba Holdings. In 2003, Hafiz Mahomed and the late Bill Lynch established the Imperial and Ukhamba Community Development Trust with an initial focus on improving mathematics and science results in township schools. Over time, the Trust recognised a deeper need: before learners could thrive in these subjects, they needed the literacy skills to understand, engage and imagine what was possible.

That insight sparked a shift towards literacy and reading with comprehension, with libraries and resource centres becoming a central part of the Trust's education programme from 2010.

Today, each library is a place where curiosity can take root, reaching 125 000 learners every day. Learners gain access to books, technology and dedicated spaces for reading, research and study. A trained, full-time librarian assistant is there to guide them, help them use these resources with confidence and nurture a lasting culture of reading and learning.

Central to this work is a well-established reading programme facilitated by the librarian, which teaches foundational literacy skills to learners in Grades 1 to 3. The programme has yielded improvements in reading for meaning, ensuring that learners not only learn to read, but to understand the content as well.

For Hafiz Mahomed, Chairman of the DP World and Motus Community Trust, the 100th library is a powerful reminder of what patient, purposeful investment can make possible. "What began as part of a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment transaction in 2003 has grown into one of South Africa's most enduring and sustainable literacy programmes. Behind each of these one hundred libraries stands a school, a community, a generation of learners and a team of dedicated educators who believe that books, properly chosen and properly used, and a conducive environment can change a child's trajectory."

The impact now reaches far beyond the library walls. More than 230 000 learners have benefited from the programme, while surrounding communities have gained new opportunities too. Librarian assistant roles provide young people with employment and skills development prospects, and some former assistants have gone on to become teachers and heads of department — extending the programme's legacy into the next generation.

This enduring impact has been made possible through collaboration. The DP World and Motus Community Trust has worked alongside partners including Europcar, Hyundai and Renault, as well as the YES4Youth programme. Together with the governance and oversight of the trustees, these partnerships have kept the programme focused on meaningful, long-term change.

For Janse van Rensburg, the scale of the investment matters because it is inseparable from Motus' core purpose: Mobility for Good. "Motus is an organisation deeply rooted in South Africa. Through this initiative, we are investing in resources, people, and partnerships because we believe sustained access to literacy can help create opportunities that will impact the lives of individuals, families, communities and, ultimately, our country."

The 100th library is far more than a number. It represents thousands of young lives given room to read, learn and dream — and shows what is possible when sustained investment, committed partners and a shared belief in social upliftment come together for South Africa's future.

For more information, visit www.motus.co.za. You can also follow Motus on LinkedIn. 

*Image courtesy of contributor