One of the more inane comments that I have read over the past few days concerning the untimely death of Jonathan Augustus Benjamin Ball was that “he was the doyen of the South African publishing industry”. Among the many things he was, that he wasn’t.
He was the publishing industry: certainly that part of it that has grown to be the validation of civil society political publishing. Prior to his publication of a book of immense bravery and lasting significance,
The Super Afrikaners (1978), in-depth political commentary tended to be found in the courage of journalists writing for their newspapers or magazines. There simply wasn’t the appetite among local book publishers to take on the Nationalist establishment. That is why even a personal account of the Treason Trial by Helen Joseph (who was a banned person after the trial) found its first home with Andre Deutsch in London.
A Pep store in Balfour Mall in Johannesburg. Picture: WALDO SWIEGERS
With the start of the school year delayed along with traditional back-to-school shopping, retailers hope buying will intensify in the next few weeks.
Retailers are using loss-leaders and promotions linked to customer loyalty cards to attract shoppers in what is an intensely competitive category. They are also extending promotions to cater for the delayed start to the academic year.
But there s no magic pill to boost sales as consumers finances continue to deteriorate due to Covid-19 restrictions that have led to job losses.
TPN Credit Bureau said in a statement this week that a growing number of parents with children at fee-paying public schools find they can no longer afford school fees . And a survey of 1,200 South Africans by Game in December 2020 found 67% of parents were concerned about finding the funds for stationery and other school supplies .