In 2007, a partnership between the Book Development Foundation (BDF) and National Library of South Africa (NLSA) ended and birthed Puku with funding remaining from the expired partnership. Following an intense gestation period with donors, brand consultants, and technology experts, puku.co.za went live in October 2009 and the Puku Children’s Literature Foundation was registered at a Non-profit company on 27 October 2010.
Puku acknowledges the contributions and capacity support of BDF board members, Boston-based organisation South Africa Partners, and Ben Williams, founder and manager of Book SA website and children’s literature expert Noni Masholugu. The plan was to name the site bhuku.co.za but on discovering that bhuku url was already taken, Ben, Noni and Colleen suggested ‘puku’ the Northern Sotho word for book. With the approval of the transitional board, Ben secured the url http://puku.co.za.
Cape Town businesswoman and lawyer Fazila Montsi and management consultant Nomzamo Rankin Ntuli and Elinor Sisulu became members of the first Puku board among others. UCT student Bontle Senne was engaged as a blogger and reviewer for the new website and later return to Puku as the first full-time director of the Puku Children’s Literature Foundation from May 2012 until August 2013.
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