Brümilda Swartbooi
Shabir Bagus is retiring after helping shape the City of Johannesburg’s Library and Information Services (LIS) for the past 37 years. Bagus, Assistant Director at LIS in Region F, describes his almost four decades in the City as inspirational. He reported for induction at Mayfair Library on 1 August 1988, which equipped him to tackle his librarian position at the Johannesburg Public Library with zeal.
His love for libraries took root among the shelves and books. “I began working in the inner city, the main library in Johannesburg. Although they posted me out almost immediately to a branch library, I requested to remain in the main library because it has diverse services, special collections, music, art and the travelling and young adult reference.”
Born and raised in Johannesburg, Bagus holds a BA in Social Science from the University of Witwatersrand, along with postgraduate qualifications in Library Science, Disaster Management and Legal Studies.
Within four years, he moved into a management position in Lenasia. As the City itself evolved from metropolitan structures to the City of Johannesburg, Bagus helped shape what public libraries could and should be. He served as Regional Manager, later becoming Assistant Director for Region G, then F.
Over the years, Bagus helped upgrade libraries in Regions G and F, identified sites for new libraries, and supported blue and green city initiatives focused on sustainability. He is especially proud of the libraries in Orange Farm, Brixton and Naturena. He also helped establish three e-classrooms, creating spaces where residents could access computers and build digital skills.
Among his favourite moments were opening new library centres, hosting the National Science Fair and meeting high-profile people, including Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande, who was the Minister of Higher Education at the time.
Bagus also served as Regional Coordinator for Disaster Management, contributing to safety awareness programmes across the City.
He lived by a simple but powerful motto: “Pursue perfection and achieve excellence.” Bagus’s career was defined by his belief that libraries are political institutions that reinforce our hard-earned democracy. Whether he was hosting National Science Fairs, organising annual literacy walks, or capacitating school libraries, his focus was always on achieving freedom through education.
In retirement, Bagus plans to catch up on reading and writing, with a focus on political analysis and reflecting on South Africa’s journey 30 years into democracy.
As he turns the page to a new chapter, his colleagues in LIS offer their thanks: “Shabir, we are incredibly grateful for your service. While the boardroom won’t be the same without you, we wish you a retirement filled with new adventures and well-deserved rest.”
Before bowing out, he leaves the City with this message: “Our commitment, our zeal and our responsibility to honour the legacy of our martyrs and comrades must be realised.”
SOURCED FROM THE CITY’S WEBSITE.
