Johannesburg campaign pushes to restore Saturday library hours

Petition and organisations behind the push

The campaign has been launched by the Friends of the Johannesburg Public Libraries NPC, the Joburg Crisis Alliance and the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation, which together have opened a public petition calling for Saturday hours to be reinstated. The organisers say weekday-only access excludes many who rely on libraries the most.

Why Saturday access matters

The article outlines multiple uses of Johannesburg’s public libraries beyond borrowing books: printing assignments, providing free Wi-Fi, hosting book clubs, offering computer programmes and serving as a safe, non-commercial public space. These services, the campaign says, are particularly important for working-class families, students and people who cannot afford home internet or printers.

Voices from the campaign

“Libraries are more than resource centres. They are one of the few free, non-commercial environments that are accessible to all,”

said Zara Natali, chair of the Friends of the Johannesburg Public Libraries NPC.

Natali emphasised that the weekend is often when parents can take children to reading sessions, when full-time workers can use library services, and when learners can study in quiet spaces away from school or home distractions.

Impact on literacy and community life

The campaign warns that closing libraries on Saturdays could harm early childhood literacy by preventing young children from attending reading programmes and from borrowing age-appropriate books for use at home. The organisers say adults also depend on libraries to improve digital literacy and to access free reading material.

Why libraries closed on Saturdays

According to Natali, the Saturday closures followed a change to staff working arrangements. She said,

“As far as we know, this was a mayoral decision to change the library staff’s working hours from 40 hours per week over six days to 40 hours per week over five days. This decision has resulted in the closure of Johannesburg’s libraries on Saturdays.”

Natali said libraries previously used a shift system that allowed staff to alternate weekends while keeping branches open on Saturdays, and she called for accountability from the Council and the Mayoral Committee.

Politics, budgets and next steps

The campaign has engaged with the City’s library department but has not yet formally presented the petition because it is still gathering public support. Natali said she believes both a lack of political will and budget constraints have contributed to the Saturday closures, noting that vacant posts cannot be filled and there are insufficient staff to cover shifts.

Where to prioritise reopening

The group says that if only a small number of libraries can reopen initially due to budget limits, certain branches should be prioritised because of their reach and accessibility. The branches the campaign identified for priority reopening are Jabavu, Orange Farm, Florida, Sandton and the Johannesburg City Library.

Broader question for the city

The campaign frames the issue as a choice about what kind of city Johannesburg will be: one where access to books, internet and study spaces depends on a person’s work schedule, or one where everyone can use public library resources on weekends. As Natali said,

“Libraries are more than resource centres. They are one of the few free, non-commercial environments that are accessible to all.”

In 2026, the campaign argues, the role of public libraries in Johannesburg remains essential.