AUTHOR Achmat Dangor loves reading and is infecting others with the literary bug, writes Victor Mecoamere.

This much was evident when he addressed literary buffs and emerging novelist and short story writer Siphiwo Mahala during the Miriam Tlali Reading and the Book Club's latest public session in Johannesburg.

It honoured legendary author Miriam Tlali, who welcomed her newest protegé, Bonolo Mpempe of Tigane in North West. Tlali gave Bonolo an autographed copy of her book, Between Two Worlds.

"Your first task is to read and understand in your own unique way what the book is all about and we will take it from there," Tlali told her charge.

Dangor, who is also CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, said the culture of reading should be nurtured from an early age.

"My six-year-old son Zachary is now searching for and setting aside books and reading for himself. To create a setting that motivates reading, I do not watch television until he is asleep," he said.

Fanta Jabbie and Marcia Tladi practised creative skills and celebrated the sixth birthday of the Write Associates' Raks and Sindiswa Seakhoa's last born, Tauhadi.