Toward a South African Book Development Policy

Overview

Literacy and reading is the lifeblood of any modern society. Reading will not only improve the level of literacy but will also contribute to personal development, socio-economic development, nation building and even social cohesion. Books remain an effective means of transmitting knowledge and recording, preserving and disseminating the cultural heritage of the South African people. It also contributes to strengthening human development and can contribute to cultural diversity. It enables participation of the various communities in present society and impacts educational progress. It is foundational to economic development. Reading is therefore an essential means for acquiring knowledge and learning. Books are essential tools and are at the root in education. Therefore, a nation’s book industry must be considered a crucial industry for national development.

Reading, and therefore books not only contribute to the improved quality of life, but is essential for development and the achievement of national and international development goals. At an international level, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call to form partnerships to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. It was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. Although reading is a necessary condition to achieving the 17 identified goals, it speaks directly to SDG 4: Quality education. All 17 goals are interconnected and are implemented in terms of national development priorities. In South Africa, the National Development Plan and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 guide the implementation of the SDGs.

South Africa’s diverse dynamic and rich culture heritage is one its most important resources that can generate significant social benefits for the nation. Equally important, but less well understood, is the potential for a vibrant and dynamic arts and culture sector to contribute significantly to the economy of the country. The National Development Plan (National Planning Commission 2012) state that to eliminate income poverty (i.e. to reduce the proportion of households with a monthly income below R419 per person (in 2009 prices) from 39 percent to zero; and reduce inequality (i.e. that the Gini coefficient should fall from 0.69 to 0.6), is necessary to increase the quality of education so that all children have at least two years of preschool education and all children in grade 3 can read and write. This requires having suitable schools; the cooperation of both parents and teacher; but above all books that will encourage reading and instill a love for reading.

Although reading on its own will not solve South Africa’s socio-economic and environmental problems, reading is foundational to finding and implementing solutions.

The book sector is complex mechanism with different groups of actors, all play their role in bringing a book into existence. For a National Book Policy to achieve its objectives, the sector must work together and ensure that all strengths must be taken advantage of, and weaknesses mitigated. These players in the sector include:

• • authors
  • publishers
  • paper manufacturers
  • printers
  • distributors
  • booksellers
  • libraries
  • readers.

The book value chain also consists of freelancers (editors, proof-readers, designers, artists, indexers, translators). However, it often happens that functions overlap or merge into one and may be executed by the same person, firm or other entities. This book chain contributes to South Africa’s socio-economic development through skills development, income generation, and jobs creation. It also contributes to a nation’s heritage and culture.

All nations have certain natural endowments. These endowments have an impact on the nation’s heritage and influences how people live, what they grow, and what they make. These all have an impact on the nation’s culture. The term “culture” incorporates the social behaviour and norms. It also includes knowledge, beliefs, laws, customs, capabilities and habits of the individuals in these groups. As can be seen in the virtuous circle below a nation’ s culture influences its art. Art is a foundation of creativity. Innovation is dependent on society’s creativity. The more innovative society, the more technology will be produced, other means of production explored, and other innovative means of doing business will be undertaken. These together contribute to improved productivity (labour, capital and total productivity) of the society. As a society becomes more productive, the economy is bound to grow. This will provide more taxes to government as well as greater discretionary income for households. With these added resources, the natural endowments can be improved and the virtuous cycle will continue.

All through history wealthier societies are known for the art that they produce. This includes fine arts but also includes literature. Although in ancient societies woman and poor people were often illiterate, the literature that was produced help shape the thinking for generations to come. It also helped shape the thinking of other nations who read the literature and adopted their art. Reading has therefore not only been the result of wealth but also the cause of wealth. Successful nations have always placed their premium on teaching their children to read.

It is important therefore that a nation reads. This reading is inculcated in children from a very young age. In South Africa, this reading culture has not been developed. Very few parents or guardians read to their children. In some cases, especially in the past, parents themselves weren’t able to read. However, today a far more fundamental problem is at play. There is very little literature in indigenous languages available for children and their parents to read. The stories that are told are not always relevant or suitable. The goal should therefore be that more South African stories, in all South African languages, written by South African authors are read by South Africans. There is a wealth of untapped stories that can and should be told. The stories need to be captured in literature so that they can be passed on to future generations.

Alexander (2013) points out that language does not acquire value automatically. Unless African languages are given market value and are used in production, exchange and distribution processes, policy change cannot guarantee their use . The dominance and hegemony of English will remain. Policy interventions are necessary, and education plays a critical role. A national development plan in which reform of education and economic development planning must be integrated. (Alexander 2013:108)

To achieve this goal, it is important that a number of stakeholders are involved. Writers, especially writers of underrepresented literature, must be encouraged to write more South African stories. Parents, teachers, booksellers and libraries must encourage a culture of reading in South Africa. The publishing industry in South Africa play major role. The following section looks at the history and the state of publishing in South Africa.