The Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture (DSAC) and Academic and Non-Fiction Authors Association of South Africa (ANFASA) released the third annual DSAC Publishing Hub open call. Building on two successful previous cycles, this established program continues its mission of preserving all South African official languages and amplifying marginalised voices.

The DSAC Publishing Hub is poised to amplify its reach and continue to deepen its impact with further publication of impactful literary works. An impressive collection of fifty-seven works, comprising of forty-three physical books, eight audiobooks, and six books converted to braille have been produced to date. Notably, four Khoi and San books written in Khwedam, !Xuhnthali, and Nama were published to further emphasising the importance of linguistic and cultural preservation.

As part of DSAC's broader mission to revitalise South Africa’s publishing sector and cultivate a thriving literary culture, the initiative continues to prioritise inclusivity and representation. With a strong emphasis on elevating indigenous languages literature and bridging systemic gaps, the program enters its third year with the ambitious goal of further producing new remarkable literary works—cementing its role as a catalyst for transformation in the national literary ecosystem

The Honourable Minister Gayton McKenzie affirmed that South African literature has significantly strengthened through the first two cycles of this initiative. "As we enter the third year, we're not just continuing to publish books—we're building a sustainable ecosystem for preserving our languages, documenting our histories, and ensuring all South Africans see themselves reflected in our national literature," said Minister McKenzie

The DSAC Publishing Hub's inaugural cycle generated over 314,337 digital impressions, establishing new pathways for accessibility in South African literature.

Key elements of the 2025/26 initiative include:

• Substantial Financial Support: R25,000 towards content development for successful authors and R80,000 per manuscript for publishers and created job opportunities for language experts, investment in South African literature
• Indigenous Language Focus: Dedicated funding for works in official South African languages, including indigenous languages and the Khoi and San Languages.
• Genre Expansion: Support for fiction, non-fiction, drama, children's literature, poetry, political narratives, and historically significant works
• Digital Innovation: Increased production of audiobooks to reach tech-savvy audiences
• Accessibility Commitment: Continued development of Braille and audio formats for visually impaired readers

"The Publishing Hub has demonstrated consistent growth and extraordinary impact over its first two cycles," said the Chairman of ANFASA - Prof Sihawukele Ngubane “With this third round of funding, we're strengthening the foundation we've built—creating both cultural preservation and sustainable livelihoods in our creative economy."

This initiative addresses critical challenges in South Africa's publishing landscape, including limited publishing opportunities for indigenous language works and accessibility barriers for readers with disabilities.

Key Dates:

• Publisher and Selection Panel Applications: Now Open (Closes June 13, 2025)
• Manuscript Submissions: Now Open (Closes June 27, 2025)
• Selections Announcement: August 2025
• Publication Schedule: October 2025 - March 2026

The initiative particularly encourages submissions from authors that are women, youth, and those from historically underrepresented communities.

For comprehensive submission guidelines or to apply, visit https://www.anfasa.org.za/dasc-publishing-hub/

For media inquiries, high-resolution imagesand interview requests contact media@jtcomms.co.za or (011) 788 7632

For further info contact Ms. Zimasa Velaphi - Head of Communications and Marketing on 072 172 8925 or zimasav@dsac.gov.za

Issued by JT Communication Solutions on behalf of Department of Sport, Arts and Culture in collaboration with ANFASA