Dear Bookseller
Welcome to the August issue of the Macnews.
It’s hard to believe we are past the halfway mark of 2024 – so little time and still so much to do!
With the National Department of Education calling for Grade 1-3 submissions by early November, the pressure is on for publishers, making us almost unaware of the mid-winter cold.
The new Foundation Phase National Catalogue, which includes all the approved materials for Grades 1-3 for use in South African public schools, will be released by the end of March 2025 for procurement by provincial education departments, districts, circuits and schools. Implementation is set for January 2026.
The Grades 1-3 Coding and Robotics curriculum has been approved, and books will be screened and included in the Foundation Phase national catalogue. The focus of the curriculum on unplugged coding means learners do not need access to computers. Our existing Solutions for All FP Coding & Robotics series will be adapted accordingly and submitted for approval.
The TVET team is thrilled to announce that the Department of Higher Education has approved four new N5 engineering textbooks. See Pg.6 for more information.
The Macmillan team would like to thank all the booksellers who attended our events in Gauteng, Cape Town and Durban in July. It was wonderful to meet you all face to face.
Other highlights in July included celebrating Nelson Mandela Day on 18 July in partnership with Umalusi (Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training). Readers were donated to Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West and Free State schools.
The “Siyafunda” project, a collaboration spearheaded by Nal’ibali and Macmillan Teacher Campus (MTC) and funded by USAID, kicked off this month. Over the next few months, MTC will train 800 parents and 350 ECD practitioners, empowering communities in KwaZulu-Natal through literacy and play-based learning.
Upcoming events for September include National Book Week (September 5 - 11), International Literacy Day (September 8), and Secretary’s Day (September 4). Turn to Pg.9 to discover how booksellers can capitalise on these special events.
Stay warm and stay healthy! Regards
The Macmillan team
From our Customer Services team
1. What’s one thing that surprised you about working at Macmillan?
I was surprised by the trust placed in young employees to work directly with customers and share their insights. The emphasis on professional development, supported by management, was also unexpected and appreciated.
2. If you could write a book about your life, what would the title be and why?
Title: The Possibilities of Young Professionals in a
This title reflects my belief in the significant impact young employees can have, highlighting opportunities and challenges in large companies.
3. What’s the top destination on your mustvisit list?
The Maldives, for its stunning beaches and clear waters, offering both relaxation and adventure.
4. What’s one hobby you’d love to get into? Travelling.
5. Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?
My Head of Department, Nilesh Gobind, whose guidance and commitment to excellence have greatly influenced my work ethic.
6. What book are you reading now?
The Art of Leadership by Dag Heward-Mills.
7. Which season is your favourite?
Summer, for the sunny weather and outdoor activities.
8. What do you enjoy most about your job?
The supportive team and interacting with customers.
9. What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?
Visiting friends, going out, and reading books.
10. What’s your favourite place to go eat around here?
Still exploring and trying different places, looking forward to finding local favourites.
Our Top 10 Bestsellers for July
1. Updated Contact Information
Stay connected with our latest sales team contacts. Our website also features contact forms for immediate assistance, ensuring you have the support you need at your fingertips.
2. Important Information
Easily access essential documents such as our Terms and Conditions of Sales, Ordering Process, Privacy Policies and Frequently Asked Questions. Everything you need to know is conveniently available online.
3. Latest Products and Services
Be the first to know about our latest offerings. Our website is updated with these latest products and services even before our monthly newsletter reaches you.
4. Educational News and Events
Keep up-to-date with the latest educational news and events that can benefit your business. Our website is a valuable resource for staying informed about the education sector.
5. View and Share Sample Copies
Instantly view sample copies of our materials to get acquainted with our books. You can share these samples with your clients. You can also save time by purchasing eBooks directly from our website. Visit Macmillan Education
TVET SALES REPRESENTATIVES
Johannesburg
Cape Town
Durban
From the Agency & Digital Team
Our comprehensive selection of educational eBooks is now available on VitalSource!
VitalSource Bookshelf is the world's leading platform for distributing, accessing, consuming and engaging with digital textbooks and course materials.
This exciting development means learners and educators can now access our high-quality educational resources anytime, anywhere. VitalSource enhances the learning experience with features like offline access, interactive elements that keep you engaged, highlighting, and note-taking capabilities. Explore our educational catalogue today on VitalSource!
For more information on VitalSource. Please send an email to: kilayne.pelser@macmillaneducaton.co.za or call 076 994 0985 Contact us
Featured Article
What Do National Book Week, World Literacy Day,
and
Secretary’s Day Have in Common?
These special days present golden opportunities for booksellers and bookshops to boost sales, engage with the community, strengthen their brands, and foster a deeper connection with their customers.
National Book Week: 5-11 September
National Book Week, celebrated in many countries, is an annual event encouraging people to engage with books and share the joy of reading.
World Literacy Day: 8 September
World Literacy Day highlights the importance of literacy and reminds the international community that literacy is a human right and the foundation of all learning.
2024 Theme: Promoting multilingual education: literacy for mutual understanding and peace.
Suggestions for Embracing the Spirit of World Literacy Day & National Book Week and Getting Involved
Schools
Find out from the schools you serve about their plans to celebrate National Book Week and World Literacy Day and see how you can support them.
• Get involved in storytelling sessions
• Partner with the school in reading challenges
• Donate books as prizes for the learners.
In-Store Displays
Create an eye-catching in-store book display to celebrate National Book Week. Set up a story corner and read stories to the kids. A competition with books as prizes can also work very well!
Email Campaign
Create an email campaign to promote reading to schools as part of these special days celebrations.
Example: Join [name of bookseller] in celebrating National Book Week by enriching your learners’ reading experiences with our captivating storybooks. Together, we can nurture a generation of enthusiastic readers and lifelong learners.
Attach a brochure or insert a link to the reader brochure. [See the Macmillan Readers at a Glance brochure on Pg.12 ]
Secretary’s Day: 4 September
Secretaries are the foundation of any organisation, including school secretaries, who play a crucial role. When entering any school, the secretary is often the first person you see, serving as the face of the school. They greet learners, parents and visitors, provide essential information, schedule appointments, answer phones, and offer administrative support to teachers and school officials. Amidst all these tasks, they also act as the ‘gatekeepers’ of the school.
Establishing and maintaining a good relationship with the school secretary is crucial for booksellers to gain access to the principal or the person responsible for purchasing textbooks and resource material.
Ways to Show Appreciation to School Secretaries on Secretary’s Day
• Customised Stationery: Personalised notebooks, pens, or planners with the school secretary’s name or initials.
• Gift Baskets: Curate baskets filled with items like gourmet snacks, coffee, tea, and small office supplies, accompanied by a personalised note of thanks.
• Flowers for the office: Show us a woman who does not like flowers!
• Voucher: Offer gift vouchers to use at your bookshop.
• Workshops: Invite the secretaries to a free online workshop on a relevant topic or a motivational talk. Contact Macmillan Teacher Campus for assistance.
• Email message: Email them on Secretary’s Day to wish them a happy Secretary’s Day.
Maintaining these relationships should not be limited to one day. It is essential to show your appreciation and support continuously.
Upcoming educational events
Date Event and Contact Details
8-Aug North West Provincial Teacher Awards
KK Modise 018 397 3058 kmodise@nwpg.gov.za
13–16 Aug Eastern Cape DoE Natural Sciences Olympiads and Astro Quiz
Ms ZN Zibi 040 608 4303 nosisi.zibi@ecdoe.gov.za
14-Aug Pretoria Hoofdekring Expo
Annelize admin4@wonwen.co.za
17-Aug Eden & Central Karoo District Grade R Symposium
Lucretia Roux Lucretia.Roux@westerncape.gov.za
22-Aug Mpumalanga Provincial Teacher Awards
Jasper Zwane 083 743 1804 j.zwane@education.mpu.gov.za
23-Aug Western Cape Provincial Teacher Awards
Gavin de Bruyn 021 900 5053 Gavin.debruyn@westerncape.gov.za
24-Aug Metro North Education District WOW isiXhosa
Spelling Bee
Buyiswa Booi-Phendukana Martha.Booi-Phendukana@westerncape.gov.za
12–14 Sept SAPA National Conference Emperors Palace
Kempton Park
Mary Masombuka 072 136 7841 sapa@idna.co.za
13–15 Sep LITASA Conference
Cape Town Kgomotso info@litasa.org.za
15–18 Sept ISASA Deputy Heads’ Conference
Cape Town
Paul Mayers pmayers@parklands.co.za
MACMILLAN READERS AT A GLANCE
PHASE PRODUCT
ECD & Grade R Here we Go Series
Available in English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana
View more information
Grade R Grade R Readers
Available in English, Afrikaans, Xitsonga
View more information
FP Snappy Sounds
Available in English
View more information
FP Alphakids Digital Library
Available in English
View more information
FP Solutions for all
Available in English, Afrikaans View more information
FP African Language Readers
Available in isiNdebele, isiZulu, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati
View more information
FP/IP Thokozani
Available in isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana
View more information
FP/IP Readers are Leaders
FP is available in English, Afrikaans. IP is available in English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana View FP brochure | View IP brochure
PHASE PRODUCT
FP/IP Flying Start to Literacy
Available in English
View FP brochure View IP brochure
FP/IP Reading Planet
Available in English View more information
FP/IP Macmillan English Explorers
Available in English View more information
FP/IP/SP/ FET Pan Macmillan titles
View English Primary School brochure
View Afrikaans Primary School brochure
View English Secondary School brochure
View Afrikaans Secondary School brochure
IP Reading Worlds
Available in English View more information IP Literacy Network
IP
Literacy Network
Available in English
View more information
IP/SP Core Readers
IP available in English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho and Setswana
SP available in English, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho and Setswana
View more information
SP Novels
Available in Afrikaans, English, Sepedi, Setswana, Siswati, Xitsonga
View Grade 7 Novels
View Grade 8 and 9 Novels
FET
Approved FET literature titles
ECD/ Grade R/ FP/IP
Available in English, Afrikaans, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivend a, Xitsonga
View more information
Reading corner resources
View more information
ECD & GRADE R KITS
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
Asheena Patel
Provincial Sales Manager
Cell: 066 138 2746
Email: Asheena.Patel@macmillaneducation.co.za
Phathi Kona
Sales and Marketing Representative
Cell: 060 908 8209
Email: Phathi.Kona@macmillaneducation.co.za
KWAZULU-NATAL
Enerst 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
Nicole Smith
Agency and Digital Sales Consultant
Cell: 082 944 6968
Email: Nicole.Smith@macmillaneducation.co.za