Pair nailed for photocopying textbooks

WHILE the country's education system crumbles due to a textbook shortage, two Eastern Cape men have been convicted in terms of the Copyright Infringement Act for illegally photocopying textbooks and then selling them at a discounted rate.

Robert Gornall, 64, and Njongo Gcwabe, 28, yesterday pleaded guilty to the manufacturing, producing and making of counterfeit goods, and the selling and possession of counterfeit goods, after a plea bargain was reached with the state.

The men apparently stored copies of a wide range of textbooks on a hard drive, so that when students or pupils asked about a particular book, they could offer it to them at a discounted price.