The National Writers Association of South Africa (NWASA) convened a virtual Inaugural General Assembly on 20-21 March 2021, with the Office Bearers coordinating proceedings from Rovzi Estate, Heidelberg, Gauteng. Other members participated online from all parts of the world including Ghana, Nigeria, London, Canada, and Syria.
Members were inducted by the Secretary General of the Pan African Writers’ Association (PAWA), Dr. Wale Okediran, through the reading of a NWASA Membership Credo. PAWA is an umbrella body of writers’ organisations in Africa. The Membership Credo prescribes the character of a member, conduct and commitment.
NWASA received Messages of Support from Nigeria; PAWA; the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Minister and Sports, H.E. Mr Nathi Mthethwa; and the former President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Mr Kgalema Motlanthe.
The General Assembly was enriched by inputs from Professor Njabulo Ndebele and Dr. Mongane Wally Serote.
We congratulate recipients of different Awards, whose names and citations are available on our website [www.nwasa.org.za].
The General Assembly declares that:
We are committed to the promotion of writers, reading, promotion of literature in all South African languages, as well as assisting writers to publish their work. To broaden our market and to position our cultural outputs as public diplomacy arsenals, we will support translation of our literature into foreign languages.
We strive to establish relations with writers’ organisations in Africa and the rest of the world, through which we will encourage cultural exchanges.
That NWASA steering committee, and general members, are committed to the protection of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, and therefore urge all citizens – irrespective of their social or other standing in society – to do likewise. We value the rule of law.
We deep our banner in honour of those of our members who have passed on in the past three years, Nana Kefuoe Walter Chakela, Moses Mitileni, Sefako Mohlomi and Sipho Mnyakeni. May their souls rest in peace!