For millions of blind and visually impaired people around the world, access to books remains a significant barrier to education, employment and full participation in society. Estimates suggest that only between 1% and 7% of published works are available in accessible formats, including braille,
large print and other formats that people with visual impairments can use. An international agreement known as the Marrakesh Visually Impaired Persons Treaty aims to address
this inequality by making it easier for countries to share accessible books across borders, allowing people to access a much wider range of reading material. South Africa has expressed its intention to join this treaty for years, but its accession remains outstanding. Now, Blind SA, represented by SECTION27, has taken the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mpho Parks Tau, to court over his decision to delay the process until the Copyright Amendment Bill becomes law. The organisation argues that a Constitutional Court order handed down in May 2025 already provides the necessary copyright exceptions to facilitate access to accessible-format works and their cross-border exchange. So, why has South Africa still not joined an agreement that could open the doors to international digital libraries? What are the consequences of this delay for blind and visually impaired South Africans, particularly learners, students and people who rely on accessible reading material? And what does this legal challenge mean for the government’s responsibility to ensure
equal access to information? We speak to SECTION27 about the court challenge, the law and what needs to happen next.