Yacoob
Abba Omar
Speech: Launch of the SA Yearbook 2000/01
23 November 2000
Some of you may have
read of Government’s recent initiatives to secure the Internet
domain name "southafrica.com" for South Africa’s
international marketing efforts.
It’s a difficult
process -- at the moment, the rights to the domain name are owned
by an American "cybersquatter" who wants to sell us
what is rightfully ours. The impact of this is that he’s
blocking the creation of a single, Internet-based entry point
for people around the world – including South Africans --
who may be interested in finding out more about our country
We could be facing a
long legal battle before we secure the rights to the domain name.
In the meantime, though,
we can offer you the closest thing you’ll get to "southafrica.com"
in book form – the South African Yearbook, the only official
source of reference on our country and its government.
Some of our readers
already refer to the Yearbook as "the poor person’s
laptop". They described it in a recent readership survey
as a priceless resource, packed with vital statistics and information
on every aspect of South African life.
We aim to ensure that
as many South Africans as possible – those with computers,
and those without – have access to this "laptop".
This year’s edition,
which runs to more than 600 pages, provides a comprehensive overview
of the activities of government and their impact on society. It
is packed with easy-to-read information and data on the system
of government, the economy, arts and culture, environmental management;
water affairs and forestry, health, education, tourism and sport.
We believe it is the
essential guide to South Africa and its government, and will be
doing all in our power to ensure that the maximum number of libraries
and schools have access to it.
We’ll also be kitting
out our mushrooming multi-purpose community centers (MPCCs) with
the new edition to ensure those in marginalized and outlying communities
have access to this critical information.
A further 5000 copies
of the yearbook will be distributed to embassies and missions
abroad, to ensure that people throughout the world have access
to information about our country. We see the Yearbook as a vital
part of government’s attempts to market South Africa abroad,
spearheaded by the recently-launched International Marketing Council.
New features
The yearbook has been
published annually since the 1970s, and we’re committed to
constantly improving it as a product.
The Yearbook team have
looked closely at their production process and at the end product,
and conducted a readership survey to gauge the book’s usefulness.
Several fairly dramatic changes have been made in response to
reader comments.
For example, the yearbook
contains some exciting new features this year -- including essays
by senior government officials on topics such as the growth of
South Africa’s infrastructure and the impact of economic
policy. A new listing section has been introduced, with contact
details of all government departments, parastatals and other important
institutions and a full list of embassies and high commissions
here and abroad.
As those of you who
are familiar with the book will see, the 2000/2001 edition has
been given a facelift for the new millennium. It has an exciting
new look and feel to ensure its reader-friendliness, and the design
team has focused particularly on ease of use and more accessible
graphs and graphics.
We feel all those involved
have done an excellent job, and have produced a publication that
government as a whole can be proud of.
With a print-run of
20 000, the yearbook will be distributed to South African embassies
around the world, as well as to the South African public. It retails
for R55 – although there are obviously discounts for bulk
purchases, so buy plenty of copies for your friends.
We believe it is a must
for researchers and librarians, businesspeople, students, companies
and non-governmental organisations, and we trust we can count
on your support in encouraging institutions, organisations and
businesses to equip their resource centers with yearbook and,
just as importantly, in encouraging the public to buy copies for
their homes.
Notes on the process
To get to this launch,
the editorial staff went through thousands of news
clippings and press releases, official documents and annual reports
and hours of electronic research to draft information that was
then sent to the 130 contributors for verification. These range
from government departments, parastatals and other interested
role-players.
Contributors’ inputs
were then incorporated, after which the processes of copy editing,
language editing, proof-reading, layout and indexing started.
The book was read about seven times before it went to the printers
and every single word break was checked.
Facts and figures
Printrun: 20
000
Printing and production cost: R600 000
Production costs per unit: R30
Selling price:
South Africa
Individuals
and private organisations
| copies |
price |
| 1-9 |
R55,00 |
| 10-249 |
R46,50 |
| 250+ |
R39,00 |
Private enterprises which buy the book for resale purposes
| copies |
price |
| 1-100 |
R46,50 |
| 100-250 |
R43,50 |
| 250+ |
R39,00 |
Government institutions:
R50,00 per copy
Countries outside South Africa
| African countries: airmail |
R195,00 ea all included |
| Overseas countries: airmail (delivery time of about 3 weeks) |
R275,00 ea all included |
Yacoob Abba Omar
Deputy CEO, Government Communications (GCIS)
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