Young South Africans are at the centre of a nationwide book tour exploring China–South Africa relations, with authors Michael Mayalo and Thabiso Mthembu set to culminate their campaign at Exclusive Books in Cape Town on 11 November 2026.
Two South African authors are taking the conversation about China, diplomacy and youth opportunities beyond the pages of a book and into classrooms, university campuses and communities across the country.
Mayalo and Mthembu are set to take their co-authored publication, Xi Jinping and China–South Africa Relations: The Gen Z Youth Perspective, on a nationwide tour that will begin in East London, Eastern Cape, before moving to Durban in KwaZulu-Natal and Kimberley in the Northern Cape, among other planned engagements.
The mission is ambitious: to bring international relations closer to young people and encourage a new generation of South Africans to understand the opportunities, challenges and possibilities emerging from the country’s relationship with China. Rather than limiting the book to traditional literary audiences, the authors plan to engage directly with learners, university students and communities, opening conversations about education, trade, technology, entrepreneurship, cultural exchange and the future of China-South Africa cooperation.
At the heart of the initiative is a simple but powerful idea: young people should not only read about international relations but also understand how global partnerships can influence their future. Their publication examines China–South Africa relations through a Gen Z perspective, exploring the significance of the relationship and the role younger generations can play in strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries. The tour will also create opportunities for discussions on China’s development experience, President Xi Jinping’s leadership and the historical and diplomatic ties connecting Beijing and Pretoria.
For Mayalo and Mthembu, the journey represents more than book promotion. It is an opportunity to bring diplomacy out of conference rooms and into spaces where young people can question, learn, exchange ideas and discover new perspectives on the world around them. The campaign is expected to reach its defining moment on 11 November 2026, when the authors plan to conclude the tour with a book launch at Exclusive Books in Cape Town.
The proposed event will bring the publication to a wider audience of readers, academics, young professionals and stakeholders interested in international cooperation and youth development. The authors also intend to expand the book’s accessibility through online retailers, including Amazon and Takealot, subject to listing arrangements and availability. As South Africa continues to engage with China across economic, educational and cultural spheres, initiatives that encourage young people to take an interest in these relationships offer an additional platform for public engagement.
From East London to Durban and Kimberley, with Cape Town as the planned grand finale, Mayalo and Mthembu are taking their message directly to the people they hope will shape the future of international cooperation. Their nationwide campaign carries a message that extends beyond the book itself: the future of China–South Africa relations should not be discussed without the voices, ambitions and ideas of the next generation.
