The Isaac Shabangu Literary Foundation (ISLF) is established to honour the legacy of the late Isaac Saki Shabangu — a visionary publisher, educator, and champion of indigenous languages — whose life’s work was dedicated to transforming the South African Publishing Sector.

 

With over four decades of experience in the publishing industry, Mr Shabangu was a pioneer in the development of inclusive, high-quality learning materials that reached learners across South Africa. He authored numerous educational publications, many of which were approved by the Department of Basic Education and used in schools across the country under various national curricula, including OBE, NCS, NRS, and CAPS. His landmark book Madiba the Folk Hero – The Turn of Tide was prescribed nationally in 2007 for Grade 11 English First Additional Language, cementing his status as a national literary contributor.

 

Despite this rich legacy, the availability of trade books in indigenous languages remains extremely limited. The Foundation recognises this as a critical gap in our literary and cultural landscape.

 

The ISLF was founded in response to this need: to create, support, and grow a vibrant culture of reading and writing in indigenous languages. Our mission is to empower a new generation of storytellers, poets, and thinkers who can publish books in their mother tongues, contribute to the national discourse, and strengthen South Africa’s multilingual heritage.