Our ethics statement

Bridge Books exists to get South African and African writing into readers’ hands. We welcome books from every community and every point of view, including books that are uncomfortable, controversial, or critical of us. Selling a book does not mean we agree with it.

But our shop, our website and our trade service are built on the values of South Africa’s Constitution: human dignity, equality and freedom. We will not use them to spread hatred.

What we won’t sell

We reserve the right to decline any title, remove it from sale, or end an EasyBooks or consignment agreement if a book goes against the spirit of those constitutional protections. In particular, we won’t sell books that:

• promote hatred of, or contempt for, people because of their race, colour, ethnic or social origin, nationality, gender, sex, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other ground protected by section 9 of the Constitution. That includes racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and xenophobia;
• advocate hatred that amounts to incitement to cause harm, incite violence, or serve as propaganda for war, which section 16(2) of the Constitution excludes from protected expression;
• are unlawful to publish, distribute or sell in South Africa.

Writing about hatred is not the same as promoting it

Books that depict, document, examine or criticise racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia and other prejudice are welcome. History, memoir, fiction, journalism, scholarship and political argument often have to show the worst of what people have said and done. Our question is what a book does with that material, not whether the material appears in it.

How we decide

These decisions are made by Bridge Books’ management, not by an algorithm. If we have a concern about a title, we’ll tell you in writing, explain why, and give you a chance to respond before we make a final decision. If we decline a title or end an agreement, we’ll pay you for any sales already made, and you’ll have 30 days to collect your stock.

This statement applies to every title sold through EasyBooks and consignment, including titles already in our system. It forms part of our EasyBooks and consignment agreements.

Questions? Email easybooks@bridgebooks.co.za.