Call for Manuscript Submissions 2025: Share Your Story with the Nation in Every Language of South Africa

The Academic and Non-Fiction Authors’ Association of South Africa (ANFASA), in partnership with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), invites aspiring and established authors from across South Africa to take part in a transformative publishing opportunity. Through the DSAC Publishing Hub, authors now have a chance to tell their stories, preserve culture, and contribute to the rich literary landscape of the country — in all of South Africa’s official languages.

This initiative aims to encourage storytelling in the widest sense, reflecting the country’s cultural, linguistic, and historical diversity. Whether your story is about personal experience, community life, heritage, historical analysis, or social commentary, the DSAC Publishing Hub wants to hear from you. The invitation is open to all South African citizens, regardless of background or writing experience. This is your chance to be part of a national movement to amplify authentic voices and preserve indigenous knowledge through the written word.

Who Can Apply?

We welcome submissions from:

• First-time authors with a compelling story to share
• Experienced writers seeking a platform for new work
• Community historians and local knowledge holders
• Writers working in any of South Africa’s 11 official languages
• Authors of non-fiction, including memoirs, biographies, cultural studies, local histories, and social issues

This opportunity is particularly suited to those who may not have access to mainstream publishing routes but who have a passion for storytelling and a desire to reach a national audience. We strongly encourage applications from voices that are underrepresented in the publishing world, including those from rural areas, indigenous language speakers, and young or older emerging authors.

What Kind of Manuscripts Will Be Considered?

The DSAC Publishing Hub is interested in publishing works that reflect South Africa’s diverse realities, including:

• Cultural and social commentary
• Personal life stories and biographies
• Regional or community histories
• Educational content with a local focus
• Non-fiction narratives highlighting contemporary issues
• Stories capturing traditional knowledge or oral histories in written form

Fiction submissions will not be considered under this specific call. This initiative is intended to uplift and support the non-fiction genre, which remains a powerful medium for education, civic engagement, and cultural preservation.

Language Matters

A key pillar of this initiative is language inclusivity. Manuscripts in all of South Africa’s official languages are welcome: Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, and Sepedi. Applicants are encouraged to submit works in the language they are most comfortable with. This approach supports linguistic diversity and ensures that literature is accessible to a broader audience within communities and across provinces.

How to Submit

Applications and manuscript submissions must be completed online through the official DSAC Publishing Hub portal. Authors are encouraged to ensure that their manuscripts are in the final stage of development and are ready for editorial review.

Here are some key guidelines to follow:

• Manuscripts must be original and unpublished
• All work must be submitted digitally in an accessible format (e.g., Word or PDF)
• A brief author biography (no more than 200 words) should be included
• A short synopsis of the manuscript (maximum one page) is required

Important Deadline

The closing date for submissions is 27 June 2025 at midnight. Late submissions will not be considered, so early application is strongly recommended.

Why Participate?

Being selected by the DSAC Publishing Hub offers authors a valuable platform to be published with professional support. Selected manuscripts will receive editorial and publishing assistance, and published works will be promoted through official DSAC channels and partners. This is not only a publishing opportunity, but a cultural investment in your voice and story.

Whether you are a schoolteacher documenting local legends, a social worker chronicling community challenges, or a grandparent recording family memories for future generations, your story matters — and now is the time to tell it.

Apply Today

This is more than a publishing opportunity. It is a national call to enrich South Africa’s literary heritage and to ensure that all voices in every language are heard, respected, and preserved.

For submission details, guidelines, and application forms, visit the official DSAC Publishing Hub website or contact ANFASA directly for more information.

Your voice is important. Your story deserves to be told. Join this national storytelling movement and help shape the future of South African literature.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the responsible organization. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.