News

Bid to tackle illiteracy by scrapping VAT on books

June 15, 2009 Edition 1

AMANDEEP PARMAR

"HELP build a nation of readers" is the message from authors, publishers and NGOs at the Cape Town Book Fair this weekend.

Terry Bell is co-ordinating the Campaign Against Reader Exploitation (CARE) to scrap VAT on books and enhance more support for libraries in South Africa to tackle the astronomical 60 percent illiteracy rate in the country.

The 14 percent VAT is one of the highest in the world on books - countries such as Ghana, Uganda and Brazil don't tax books,"said Bell.

"We need an educated population to get out of this economic hole we're in and freer, cheaper access to books is essential for this."

Bell tried to tackle this problem before when he presented 100 000 signatures to Trevor Manuel seven years ago, but the petition fell on deaf ears when the former finance minister said, "only the rich will benefit" from an abolition of VAT on books.

Instead of signatures now, though, Bell is looking for people to get involved, write to newspapers, phone radio stations, march on Parliament, do whatever it takes.

Postcards are being distributed to be signed and sent to new Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

It is hoped the new government, which pledged to make education a priority, will be more responsive to these calls, to which prominent authors at the fair voiced their support.

Moeletsi Mbeki, at the fair discussing his new book Architects of Poverty, said: "The government isn't poor, to tax books is a ridiculous idea."

According to the South African Book Development Council, only 14 percent of South Africans read books and more than half the country's households have no books. Those who don't read books mainly blame the high cost or lack of a library within the vicinity.

Bestselling and award-winning author for his Spud books, John van de Ruit, said it was essential that books were made affordable.

"The price of paperbacks here is astronomical. Some go for around R230, which is a person's weekly food budget."

Van de Ruit is enjoying his time at the book fair, however, claiming it gave him the chance to meet fans and to hear their stories.

There is a huge buzz around the Cape Town International Convention Centre with 305 exhibitors from 31 countries, catering to the literary whims of the 57 000 visitors expected to attend.

Academics and scholars are holding seminars and discussion forums while punters revel in the intellectual debate and the chance to meet their favourite authors.

The fair runs until tomorrow and highlights still to come include a chance to talk to satirical cartoonist Zapiro.

amandeep.parmar@inl.co.za