From the President

We recently had the twentieth Annual General Meetings of the SA Booksellers Association. There are a number of factors affecting our industry in South Africa at various levels. Like the rest of the world, economic fluctuations, along with a drop in consumer confidence and a general increase in costs across the board are affecting the industry in a myriad of different ways.Paper prices have gone up between 24 and 35% and shipping costs have gone up 23% in the last year. The economic meltdown and political turmoil being experienced in other parts of the globe is staring us in the face as well and the book industry is no different. The current rand/dollar exchange rate does not help matters.

NATIONAL OFFICE

The last year at the SA Booksellers national office has been most challenging. We did not have the services of an office manager during this period but thanks to Jonathan and the Exco team who have all rallied in assisting to the day to day issues of the association. The good news is that we now have a new lady, Tashrikah Jones who has taken the place of Samantha at the National Office in Cape Town. We hope in time, she will be able to assist in all your book related queries.

BOOKSELLERS ON-LINE COURSE

The Booksellers On-Line Course steered by Olinka Nel is ready to go live. The royalty agreement is signed and I believe all other processes completed. This is a huge benefit for members and a lot of effort and time was sacrificed by Olinka, Melvin and the team towards enhancing  booksellers in the long term.

RETAIL BOOK SURVEY

It is important for us as an industry to have a fairly recent guide to the value and size of retail bookselling in South Africa. Our last survey was done five years ago and we therefore have instructed the University of Pretoria to go ahead with the survey. You would have received your Confidential Book Trade Industry Survey and I hope you have completed and returned the form to the University of Pretoria team. The survey is an expensive exercise and it is vital for members to ensure that the correct information is supplied to the survey team. Mr Peter Adams is our go to man regarding the survey.

VAT ON BOOKS

A Sub-Committee was set up by Treasury to call for recommendations on value added tax on goods and other commodities. Mahomed Kharwa submitted a detailed document on behalf of SABA for the zero rating of text books to the sub-committee. We were not successful.

LTSM FORUM

Hentie Gerricke, Sydwell Molosi and myself represent SABA at the LTSM Forum meetings held in Pretoria. Unfortunately, late postponement and cancellation of some meetings by DOE makes attending a challenge and therefore no report back to SABA.

SOUTH AFRICAN BOOK DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

We are a founding member of the organisation. Melvin, Olinka and I attend SABDC meetings. Current findings are that there is no increase in the number of adult South Africans that read on a regular basis.

Reports from the Educational, Library, General, Academic and Digital sub-committees will presented by heads of these groups and you will have the opportunity to ask questions if necessary.

My sincere thanks and appreciation to the following who served on the SABA Executive the last year, so admirably:

Vice Presidents – Riaz Hassim (Chair: Northern Region) and Melvin Kaabwe(Chair: Digital)

Honorary Secretary:                                     Peter Adams

Treasurer:                                                      Jonathan Ferreira

General Trade Chair:                                    Olinka Nel

Library Chair:                                                Vic Lopich

Education Chair:                                           Hentie Gerricke

Digital Sector:                                               Melvin Kaabwe

Academic Chair:                                            Mahomed Kharwa

Eastern Region Chair:                                   Sydwell Molosi

Southern Region Chair:                                Ermien Louw

National Office Manager:                             Tashrikah Jones

And Myself as President and Chair of the Central Region

The Association notes its appreciation and gratitude to all individuals who have given so much of their time to assist in the interests of the book industry. Your presence here today is also appreciated. I want to place on record our thanks to Maureen Hargraves for arranging the annual conference this year again.

In conclusion I wish to thank you for your support and guidance and reiterate that my job as chair was made a lot easier working with an excellent executive committee team.

“To write books is easy, it requires only pen and ink and the ever-patient paper. To print books is a little more difficult, because genius often rejoices in illegible handwriting. To read books is more difficult still, because of a tendency to go to sleep. But the most difficult task of all that a       mortal man can embark on is to sell a book” ~ Stanley Unwin

Guru Redhi

President : SA Booksellers Association