Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mhlongo (2004) observes that the South African bestseller charts are dominated by imported titles and that it appears that the public prefer foreign titles above books published in South Africa (SA). By analysing data of South African general trade book sales, it has been possible to establish to what extent Mhlongho’s statement is true for all Nielsen BookScan South Africa (NBS-SA) Product Class genres. An analysis of the weekly Top 50 bestseller charts produced by NBS-SA proved that local authors face strong competition from frequently read foreign authors. The aim of this report is to assist South African authors to identify niche markets where, though South African published titles do not compete well against imported titles, there is a definite buyer interest. Only product classes that have the potential to yield relatively high returns for the author were considered. An investigation into the number of SA published books within each of the product classes revealed that South African authors and publishers are indeed under-servicing these identified product classes. Further analysis pointed out that South African titles that sell well are mainly on non-fiction topics; and in the young adult group SA title sales are mainly obtained through educational product. Most identified publishing opportunities were within genres requiring very specific or at least some prior knowledge about the subject matter, thereby restricting the possibilities to authors knowledgeable on those subjects. Fiction, however, is a generalist genre and most generalist areas were found to be completely dominated by imported titles. The analysis resulted in the extraction of the most viable publishing opportunities for South African authors in the general book trade market of South Africa. The findings of this research report empower the South African general trade book industry by exposing publishing opportunities in this country. By targeting these genres, local authors increase their probability of earning good returns and reclaiming market share from imported titles, provided that they are capable of producing competitive titles. It was concluded that poor book-buying figures are a consequence of the financial status of South African inhabitants. The outcome hereof is a very distinct buyer group that tends to buy books for application purposes and which focuses on acknowledged bestsellers when it comes to leisure reading. This is not very different from what is seen internationally. The small size of the South African market however does not create enough depth to ensure good sales on average titles. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mhlongho (2004) het beweer dat Suid-Afrikaanse beste verkopelyste gedomineer word deur ingevoerde publikasies en dat dit blyk dat die publiek ingevoerde titels verkies bo Suid-Afrikaans gepubliseerde boeke. Deur middel van ’n analise van algemene boekverkope in Suid-Afrika was dit moontlik om te bepaal hoe waar Mhlongho se bewering is ten opsigte van alle Nielsen BookScan-produkklasse. ’n Analise van die weeklikse Top 50 verkopelyste, gepubliseer deur Nielsen BookScan Suid-Afrika, het bevestig dat outeurs sterk kompetisie kry van welbekende internasionale outeurs. Die doel van hierdie verslag is om Suid-Afrikaanse outeurs te help om markte te identifiseer waarin Suid-Afrikaanse titels nie goed opweeg teen ingevoerde titels nie, maar waar daar nog steeds ’n besliste kopersaanvraag is. Slegs produkklasse wat ’n potensiaal vir relatiewe hoë opbrengste getoon het is oorweeg. ’n Studie na die hoeveelheid Suid-Afrikaans gepubliseerde boeke wat beskikbaar gemaak word in elk van hierdie produkklasse het getoon dat hierdie genres inderdaad nie deur Suid-Afrikaanse outeurs en uitgewers bedien word nie. ‘n Verdere analise het getoon dat Suid-Afrikaanse titels wat goed verkoop merendeels uit nie-fiksie bestaan. In die jong adolessente groep word SA-verkope gekenmerk deur studiemateriaal. Die meeste van die geïdentifiseerde gapings was in genres wat spesifieke kennis of insig tot ’n sekere vakgebied vereis en sodoende die gebruiklikheid daarvan beperk tot outeurs met hierdie vakkennis. Fiksie is egter ’n algemene genre en oor die algemeen word hierdie produkklasse geheel en al gedomineer deur ingevoerde publikasies. Die analise het moontlike geleenthede vir Suid-Afrikaanse outeurs in die algemene boeksektor bloot gelê. Die eindproduk van hierdie navorsingsprojek bemagtig die Suid-Afrikaanse algemene boekbedryf deur uitgeegeleenthede te identifiseer. Deur hierdie geleenthede op te neem staan opkomende outeurs die kans tot goeie verdienste en om markaandeel te wen ten midde van ingevoerde publikasies, mits hulle ’n meedingende produk kan lewer. Die verslag sluit af met die bevinding dat swak boekverkope die resultaat is van die finansiële beslag van Suid-Afrika se inwoners. Die netto effek is ’n baie eiesoortige kopersgroep wat geneig is tot boeke geskik vir toepassings. Verder spits hulle hulle toe op beste verkopers wanneer dit kom by aankope vir ontspanning. Dit is nie aansienlik verskillend van wat die internasionale tendens is nie, maar die grootte van die Suid-Afrikaanse mark laat egter nie genoeg diepte om goeie verkope vir gemiddelde titels te verseker nie.

This thesis analyses the compatibility of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) with the South African law of sale. An initial examination of the historical development of the CISG reveals its ambitions of becoming the primary source of law governing international contracts of sale. The goal of this research is to determine whether South Africa should ratify the CISG. The CISG has been ratified by most of the leading trading States in the world. In order to gain a better understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of ratification, a comparative study has been undertaken. The stance taken toward the CISG by the United Kingdom and Germany has been examined. The United Kingdom has staunchly avoided ratifying the CISG, despite having agreed thereto a number of years ago. Germany however has taken a different approach and has welcomed the CISG. The experiences of these foreign States serve as a useful guide when assessing the specific challenges that exist in South Africa concerning the adoption of the CISG. The most important aspect of this study is the direct comparison between the legal provisions housed in the CISG and their counterparts under South African law. A careful investigation has been conducted into the rights, duties, and remedies under the CISG. This investigation is followed by an examination of the corresponding rights, duties, and remedies under the South African domestic law of sale. It is evident from these explorations that the rights and duties under the CISG strongly resemble those under South African law. The direct comparison revealed however that certain remedies found in the CISG do not have a counterpart under South African law. Despite this discrepancy, there are no legal principles in the CISG that are completely unknown in South African law. While certain remedies housed in the CISG cannot be found in an identical form under South African law, sufficiently similar legal principles can be found, which frequently lead to the same results as those under the CISG. This study is concluded with a recommendation concerning South Africa’s adoption of the CISG.