UCT Press is a traditional university press in every sense of the word - publishing peer-reviewed books written by UCT authors and other academic institutions from SA and abroad. But it's even better than that; after a few years in the doldrums, the label has gone from strength to strength over the past few years, thanks to the backing of one of the country's best publishing houses, Juta.

Who is UCT Press?

Originally started by former UCT professor Martin Hall in 1994, UCT Press was run from the Centre of African Studies. In 1998, Juta and Company Ltd bought 100% of the press from UCT, moved the UCT Press offices to their premises in Wetton, and took over the sales, marketing and warehousing of books. Today, UCT Press is run by Juta, Sandy Shepherd and a UCT editorial board that meets on a quarterly basis to review forthcoming titles.

What are its objectives?

The Press aims to publish peer-reviewed scholarly books of a high standard, and has an interest in books dealing with the African context. Its objectives are to promote the research of Africa's highest-rated university, UCT, although not exclusively. The press does this by publishing the work in book form and marketing and selling it locally and internationally. It aims to produce academic works, but also books that cross over to a general readership, thus providing a bridge between the campus and the community.

What does it publish?

UCT Press publishes non-fiction, largely in the area of the humanities, but also business management, development studies, environmental studies, law and public administration, all with an African perspective. The books may be single-author or multi-author works. It does not publish doctoral theses, except if they have been reworked into book form.

How is it run?

Interested authors are invited to complete a publishing proposal form, together with a table of contents and a sample chapter, which are submitted to the editorial board. Following approval of the proposal, the final manuscript is submitted to UCT Press and sent out for peer review to at least two reviewers, and then goes back to the board for the go-ahead. Depending on the anticipated sales of a title, UCT Press may or may not request authors to find funding to assist with the production process. Juta and UCT Press oversee the editing, typesetting and printing of the books, and outsource the sales and distribution of the printed copies through Blue Weaver in southern Africa. The most recent books are also sold as e-books.

Contact: Digby Sales (Editorial Board Chair) or Sandy Shepherd (Publisher).