Dear Booksellers,
Welcome to the February issue of MacNews! The year is off to a
fantastic start, and we have plenty of exciting updates to share.
In January, we celebrated the Grade 12 results by awarding the top 10 achievers in each province with a laptop trolley bag – a small token of encouragement for their hard work and dedication.
On 5 February, we joined the world in celebrating Global Read Aloud Day by bringing stories to life for children in hospitals and ECD centres nationwide. We also made sure to appreciate the teachers who inspire young minds daily! Read more about our Read Aloud celebrations on Pg.5.
Our publishing team eagerly awaits feedback from the National Department of Education on the FP CAPS materials submitted in November 2024. Our Publishing Director will share the latest news with you at our virtual bookseller get-together on 5 March. If you haven’t received your invitation yet, check Pg.7 for details.
Looking for ways to grow your business? On Pg.8, you’ll find a calendar of educational events across all provinces, which are great opportunities to connect with schools and promote your offerings. This schedule will be updated in every issue of MacNews.
Congratulations to the booksellers who qualified for the Macmillan 2025 Inner Circle! Your provincial sales representative will contact you soon to share more about your exclusive membership benefits.
This year, we encourage you to adopt the spirit of the giraffe – standing tall, seeing the bigger picture, and moving forward confidently. Discover how these unique traits can help you achieve your best sales year yet on Pg.3.
We value your feedback and would love to hear your ideas on how we can support your business in 2025. Let’s make this year a great one – together!
Until next time,
MAKE 2025 YOUR BEST SALES YEAR YET!
Embrace the spirit of the giraffe and its unique traits this year - standing tall, seeing the bigger picture, and moving confidently. Rise above daily challenges and focus on long-term goals.
KEY LESSONS FROM THE GIRAFFE
Vision & Perspective
See the Bigger Picture
Giraffes have the tallest vantage point in the animal kingdom.
Lesson: Look beyond short-term hurdles and focus on long-term wins.
Strong Foundations & Strategy
Build on Strength
A giraffe’s legs are incredibly powerful, supporting its massive frame.
Lesson: To stay ahead, you should rely on solid sales strategies, discipline, and persistence.
Resilience & Adaptability
Bend, but Don’t Break
Despite their height, giraffes remain flexible when they need to drink or eat from lower branches.
Lesson: Challenges will come, but staying flexible while remaining strong will ensure you keep moving forward.
Fast When It Matters Speed and strategy
Giraffes can run up to 60 km/h when necessary.
Lesson: Knowing when to accelerate efforts can make all the difference. Knowing when to push harder and when to refine your approach is a game-changer.
Stand Tall, Reach High Set ambitious goals, support each person in your team, and rise above the challenges. 2025 is your year!
Standing tall with confidence Own Your Space
Giraffes are calm and graceful, yet they dominate their environment.
Lesson: Confidence wins deals. Believe in your products, your company, and most importantly, yourself. Approach clients with confidence, even in challenging situations.
Macmillan Education South Africa’s Impactful Celebration of World Read Aloud Day
Online Read-Aloud Webinar
One of the most notable successes of our WRAD celebrations was our free online Read Aloud webinar presented by Dr Philips. The event saw an overwhelming response, with over 1,000 enthusiastic participants registering to partake in an engaging and insightful session. Attendees were treated to expert guidance on the power of reading aloud, practical storytelling techniques, and valuable resources to enhance literacy development. The positive feedback we received from participants was truly inspiring, reaffirming the importance of such initiatives in empowering educators and parents alike.
Provincial Sales Team Initiatives: Taking Literacy to the Community
Our dedicated provincial sales teams went above and beyond to ensure the success of WRAD by organising interactive reading sessions at various Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers and children’s wards at hospitals.
The Read Aloud Challenge: A Social Media Triumph
Macmillan Education South Africa also launched an exciting Read Aloud Challenge, calling on parents, teachers, and young readers to share their storytelling videos. The response was phenomenal, with hundreds of entries flooding our social media platforms. The enthusiasm displayed by parents and children was heartwarming, and the engagement on our digital platforms soared.
Macmillan Online Reading Corner: A Platform for Digital Storytelling
The Macmillan Online Reading Corner is an online digital storytelling platform designed to make reading more engaging and accessible for children. It features six new stories, which brings the total number of stories to 25. These videos provide valuable reading resources for educators, parents, and young learners, further strengthening our mission to make literacy accessible and engaging. This was a perfect fit for Read Aloud day.
Meet the new Provincial Sales Manager for Gauteng
We are excited to introduce Nicole Smith, our new sales manager for Gauteng!
Nicole and Pathi Kona, the sales representatives in this province, will be your go-to contacts for all things related to Macmillan Education educational resources, from curriculum support to the latest approved textbooks.
With a passion for education and a commitment to excellent service, Nicole is eager to connect with you, understand your needs, and ensure you have the best customer resources. Please feel free to contact Nicole for any assistance. She looks forward to strengthening our partnership and supporting you in your work.
Email: nicole.smith@macmillaneducation.co.za
Cell: 082 944 6968
Join us for an exclusive virtual experience!
A live broadcast of the latest updates, new products, and marketing matters. Get ready for insightful segments on departmental updates, publishing insights, and more. Don’t miss out on this exciting broadcast!
COMING TO YOU LIVE ON: 05 March 2025 10:00 – 12:00 Click here to join the broadcast!
Diarise these dates
6 March
Schoolscape ONE (GP)
The Indaba Hotel, Fourways
Werner Truter (werner@schoolscape.co.za)
13 March
Schoolscape ONE (KZN)
Durban ICC
Werner Truter (werner@schoolscape.co.za)
10 May
EduXplore North Expo
Heartfelt Arena, Pretoria
Elmarene Croucamp (elmarene@kragdag.co.za)
17 May
WCED Grade R Conference
CTLI, Kuilsriver
Natalie Southgate (Natalie.Southgate@westerncape.gov.za)
21–22 May The Rural Education Conference
Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, Durban manqoba@federatedmi.co.za
24 May MNED FP DH Symposium
Durbanville High School
Jennifer Daniels (Jennifer.Daniels@westerncape.gov.za)
30 Jun–4 July AMESA National Congress
University of Limpopo
Nombulelo Mandindi (Nombulelo.Mandindi@wits.ac.za)
21 July
Innovate & Inspire Conference
Hudson Park Primary, East London
Kelly Bush (kbush@hpps.co.za)
7–9 Aug Proudly Primary Conference
St Charles College, Pietermaritzburg
Wendy Symington (wendy@cathybraanspr.co.za)
11–13 Sept SAPA National Conference
Gqeberha, Eastern Cape
13 Sept EduXplore KZN
Grace Family Church, Umhlanga
Elmarene Croucamp (elmarene@kragdag.co.za)
11 Oct
EduXplore Cape
Sunningdale Sports Centre
Elmarene Croucamp (elmarene@kragdag.co.za)
Invest in Your Staff - Boost Morale and Productivity!
Macmillan Online Teacher Campus offers more than just teacher training - we provide courses designed to enhance the skills and growth of all staff members.
Investing in continuous learning is essential for any company’s success. No matter the role, every employee benefits from ongoing development, leading to increased productivity, innovation and morale.
Allow your team to upskill this year with our flexible online courses. For just R550 per course, staff can learn at their own pace, anytime, anywhere.
Courses perfect for your team include:
• Human Relations
• Cyber Safety
• Time & Stress Management
Conflict Management
Workplace Communication
For more information, contact Ricky Steenkamp: �� ricky.steenkamp@macmillaneducation.co.za �� 078 112 2991
Click on the covers below to download our catalogues
Local and international agencies we represent
Contact Us
NATIONAL
Sibonelo Mkhasibe
Head of National School Sales
Cell: 066 474 3793
Email: Sibonelo.Mkhasibe@macmillaneducation.co.za
Antoinette de Vries
Head of National Commercial Sales and Marketing
Tel: 011 731 3455
Email: Antoinette.deVries@macmillaneducation.co.za
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Tel: 011 731 3300
Email: customerservices@macmillaneducation.co.za
TVET COLLEGES
Jayshil Bhula
Senior Sales Representative: TVET Colleges
Cell: 076 222 2798
Email: jayshil.bhula@macmillaneducation.co.za
Thantaswa Botile
Sales Representative: TVET Colleges
Cell: 071 671 1228
Email: thantaswa.botile@macmillaneducation.co.za
EASTERN CAPE
Ayanda Nkunzi
Sales and Marketing Representative
Cell: 082 949 9664
Email: Ayanda.Nkunzi@macmillaneducation.co.za
FREE STATE
Peter Ledwaba
Provincial Sales Manager
Cell: 076 994 0986
Email: Peter.Ledwaba@macmillaneducation.co.za
GAUTENG
Nicole Smith
Provincial Sales Manager
Email: Nicole.Smith@macmillaneducation.co.za
Cell: 082 944 6968
Phathi Kona
Sales and Marketing Representative
Cell: 060 908 8209
Email: Phathi.Kona@macmillaneducation.co.za
KWAZULU-NATAL
Ernest Muzi Mshengu
Sales and Marketing Manager
Cell: 082 528 3712
Email: ernest.mshengu@macmillaneducation.co.za
Qhawe Gumede
Sales and Marketing Representative
Cell: 067 187 3166
Email: Qhawe.Gumede@macmillaneducation.co.za
LIMPOPO
Mmatapa Moabelo
Sales and Marketing Representative Cell: 078 804 0612
Email: Mmatapa.Moabelo@macmillaneducation.co.za
MPUMALANGA
Lillian Vuma
Sales and Marketing Representative
Cell: 078 803 9918
Email: Lillian.Vuma@macmillaneducation.co.za
NORTH WEST
Mmaabo Modisane
Provincial Sales Manager
Cell: 071 399 1337
Email: Mmaabo.Modisane@macmillaneducation.co.za
NORTHERN CAPE
Liezl Abrahams
Sales and Marketing Representative Cell: 071 441 9144
Email: Liezl.Abrahams@macmillaneducation.co.za
WESTERN CAPE
Liezl Abrahams
Sales and Marketing Representative Cell: 071 441 9144
Email: Liezl.Abrahams@macmillaneducation.co.za
Tania Zeederberg
Sales and Marketing Representative
Cell: 066 211 4352
Email: Tania.Zeederberg@macmillaneducation.co.za
AGENCY AND DIGITAL
Kilayne Pelser
Agency and Digital Sales Manager
Cell: 076 994 0985
Email: Kilayne.Pelser@macmillaneducation.co.za