Lorato Trok: The Vocation of Reading

by Daluxolo Moloantoa · March 30, 2026

Lorato Trok, award-winning author and literacy activist

Writer and literacy advocate Lorato Trok has made it her mission to help South African children see themselves in the stories they read — and her Catholic faith guides every page she writes, as she told Daluxolo Moloantoa.

For Lorato Trok, faith and storytelling go hand in hand. The writer, editor, translator and literacy advocate has dedicated her life to helping South African children find themselves in the stories they read — stories told in their own languages, filled with love, culture and hope. And this mission has been recognised by the president.

This year, Lorato was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa as one of the 31 members of the Eminent Persons Group, tasked with guiding and promoting the National Dialogue. It is a comprehensive initiative designed to advance South Africa’s Vision 2030 and establish the groundwork for the next stage of the country’s National Development Plan.

Lorato is in estimable company. Others on the panel include Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town, Judge Edwin Cameron, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis, peace activist Ela Gandhi, business leader Bobby Godsell, Gift of the Givers founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, former Independent Electoral Commission chair Dr Brigalia Bam, actor John Kani, rocket scientist Siyabulela Xuza, former Northern Cape premier Manne Dipico, and fellow author Gcina Mhlope, among others. The first National Convention was held in August.

Lorato’s upbringing shaped her future. “I come from a big family of ten girls and one boy,” says the parishioner of St Martin de Porres church in Sunnyside, Pretoria. “Our father passed away when I was ten, and my widowed mother was only 40 years old. It wasn’t easy, but my mom’s strong faith carried us through.”

Lorato remembers her mother as a woman of deep prayer. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone pray as much as she did. We prayed every night before bed and every morning before school. Her Catholic faith guided everything she did.”

Lorato grew up in Kuruman, a small town in the Northern Cape, where faith was part of everyday life. “Everyone knew everyone, and we had more churches than schools,” she laughs. “Even during apartheid, people found ways to laugh, love and celebrate. Faith was everything.”

Her earliest memories are filled with attending church services and family prayer. “Being Catholic was part of who we were. My mother’s faith shaped me. Now I wear mine proudly — it’s part of me.”

Although shy as a child, Lorato enjoyed youth gatherings at church, especially Chiro and diocesan camps. “Those were joyful times filled with love and song. That’s where I felt closest to God.”

Two of Lorato Trok’s books: The Forgotten Scientist: The Story of Saul Sithole (Jacana) and Rosina’s Dream (New Africa Books), about athlete Rosina Sedibane Modiba, which is available in five languages

Teacher’s impact

She smiles when she remembers her Grade 1 teacher. “Mme MaHlati made me love learning. She had so much passion for teaching us reading. Many of my teachers believed in me and encouraged me to write.”

After 1994, when libraries opened to everyone, Lorato volunteered at the main library in Kuruman. “Elna Greyling, the librarian, took me under her wing. She encouraged me to apply for a job at another library. That changed everything for me.”

Her love for children’s books grew while working at the Kuruman Moffat mission. “It was a theological library, but not many people visited. So I started a reading programme for young children and trained teachers on using books in class. There were very few Setswana books, so I translated them myself. That’s when I knew — I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.”

Education soon became her calling. She studied at Taung College of Education, now part of North-West University, and later earned qualifications in languages, literature and library science from the University of South Africa (UNISA).

Reading for fun

Lorato later joined the Centre for the Book in Cape Town, and then worked with Room to Read before becoming director of the Nal’ibali Trust and spreading the message of reading and storytelling across the country.

Nal’ibali (“Here’s the story” in isiXhosa) is a nationwide campaign that promotes reading for enjoyment. Its aim is to ignite and instil a reading culture among children from birth to 12 years old throughout South Africa by providing engaging reading materials in all national languages.

“One of the highlights was the ‘First Words in Print’ project,” she recalls. “It even won an international prize, and I was invited to speak at the Library of Congress. It proved that South African stories have a place in the world.”

Lorato has written more than 20 picture books and several biographies. “Writing in Setswana brings me so much joy. It’s vital for children to see and hear stories in their own languages. That’s how they build confidence.”

She also believes Catholic schools should embrace local stories. “When my daughter was at a Catholic school, I spoke to the principal about adding more African books to the library. Our children must see themselves in the books they read.”

Her biographies of athlete Rosina Sedibane Modiba, ornithologist Saul Sithole and linguist Ouma Katrina Esau tell the stories of people often left out of history. She also co-wrote choreographer Gregory Maqoma’s biography, My Life, My Dance, My Soul.

“These are the stories I wish I’d known as a child,” Lorato says. “Our children should grow up knowing their heroes.”

Strong faith life

Faith remains at the heart of Lorato’s life. “I fast every Lent for 40 days, and every Monday during the year. It gives me peace. My Bible is my guide — it’s how I hear God’s voice. My daughter shares Bible verses with me when I travel.” She quotes Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.”

To young Catholics who want to write, she offers simple advice: “Go for it! Read a lot — good writers are always good readers. Keep a journal, pay attention to the world, and pray for guidance. God will bless your work.”