“VUT FM deepened its commitment to literacy and cultural dialogue through “Chapters and Conversations”, a live storytelling event featuring acclaimed author Khaya Dlanga, who inspired students and readers to reclaim African narratives and rediscover the joy of reading”
21October 2025 | Story By: Thabisang Thebeeapelo| Picture: Peter Masela.
3 minutes read time.
The Desmond Tutu Great Hall at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) came alive with words, wit, and wisdom on 18 October 2025 as VUT FM hosted the celebrated author and storyteller Mr Khaya Dlanga for a live edition of its growing literary series, “Chapters and Conversations.”
More than a literary gathering, the event was a deliberate act of cultural revival, a call to young South Africans to reclaim their stories, rebuild their reading culture and write themselves into the national narrative
“Chapters and Conversations was born out of a desire to reignite the reading culture and give our students direct access to the thinkers shaping our national narrative,” explained Ms Saneliso Mavuka, VUT FM’s Content Coordinator and one of the event organisers. “Inviting Khaya Dlanga was deliberate, as his work represents authenticity, curiosity, and the courage to tell one’s own story.”
Mr Dlanga, best known for To Quote Myself and Life Is Like That Sometimes, spoke with his trademark wit about his journey from rural beginnings to becoming one of South Africa’s most recognisable creative voices. He described how reading shaped his worldview and opened paths that no title or degree could.
“If I had not been a vicarious reader, I doubt I would be where I am today,” he told the audience, adding that “reading opened doors that no title or degree could.”
He also recalled an encounter with former President Thabo Mbeki, who once told him that South Africans must write their own stories. “Too much of our history has been told from a Western gaze. When we tell our stories, we reclaim the power to define who we are and what we can become,” Dlanga said.
The event was gracefully directed by Ms Lebo Dolo, a VUT FM presenter who served as programme director and master of ceremonies. Ms Dolo anchored the evening with warmth and passion, grounding the literary celebration in a sobering national reality.
“As the Department of Basic Education reminds us, more than eight out of every ten Grade 4 learners in South Africa cannot read for meaning, this is not just a statistic, it is a call to action,” she stated.
The dialogue itself was moderated by Mr Ayeza Nodyontywana, also a VUT FM presenter, who led an engaging discussion that blended humour, introspection, and practical insight. The evening concluded with a question-and-answer session and a book signing, giving students and readers a rare opportunity to connect personally with the author.
In a country where 81% of Grade 4 learners struggle to read for meaning, according to the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), initiatives like Chapters and Conversations are more than cultural showcases, they are interventions in the national literacy crisis.
“We want students to see that storytelling is not reserved for the few, it belongs to all of us. Every time someone reads, writes, or listens with intent, a new story of Africa is born,” said Ms Mavuka.
As the applause faded and the last books were signed, it became clear that Chapters and Conversations is not just an event, it is a movement. Through it, VUT FM transforms the airwaves into classrooms, stories into mirrors, and readers into dreamers, rekindling the nation’s love for the written word one conversation at a time.