​For 26 years, Kgaugelo Eunice Ranko has helped keep Johannesburg's libraries at the heart of their communities – supporting literacy, education and lifelong learning while building lasting relationships with colleagues and library users. Now, as she bows out of the City at the end of August 2026, Ranko looks back on a career she describes as both rewarding and enjoyable.​

A quiet and humble professional, Ranko will be missed by her colleagues in in Library and Information Services (LIS), where she has built friendships and contributed to the growth of library services across Johannesburg.

“I have enjoyed working with and meeting so many different people. I will miss social connections with co-workers, camaraderie and work identity," she says.

Ranko joined the City on 1 August 2000 as Operations Manager at Florida Library. The following year, she became a Community Librarian (Manager) in Region 3, now Region E, initially overseeing Killarney, Orange Grove, Rivonia and Savoy libraries. Her portfolio later grew to include three more libraries.

In 2012, she moved to Region C, where she served until September 2022, before returning to Region E in October 2022. Over the years, Ranko played an important role in delivering LIS services and implementing educational, literacy and community programmes across Johannesburg's libraries. She also regularly stepped into acting Assistant Director roles, demonstrating her leadership and extensive institutional knowledge.

Her library career began long before her City journey. After earning an Honours Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of the North, she started her professional career in 1988 at the National Library of South Africa in Pretoria as a cataloguer for the South African National Bibliography.

Now retirement beckons, and Ranko is looking forward to spending quality time with family and friends. And although she is leaving LIS, she is not quite leaving libraries behind. This time, she looks forward to experiencing them from the other side of the counter – as a valued library borrower.

“I will enjoy my retirement and spend quality time with family and friends," she says.

Written by Brümilda Swartbooi & Community Development
31/08/2026
 
Recommended for you:
City's Londiwe Mthabela remains an equality activist at heart
Dr Cachalia bows out after 24 years of making Joburg safer
City's Rowena Makgalemele a leader in risk management and community empowerment
City's library stalwart Tsotetsi bids farewell after 39 years
Pieter van Vuuren bids farewell after boosting city spaces for 36 years

To stay informed about the latest developments in the City, connect with us on:
X: @CityofJoburgZA
Facebook: City of Joburg
Instagram: @CityofJoburg
TikTok: @CityofJoburg
Threads: @cityofjoburg
LinkedIn: City of Johannesburg
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CityOfJoburgZA/videos​