By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GettyImages.
Media 24 subsidiary of Naspers confirmed on Friday, it had initiated a formal consultation process with City Press staff “with the intention of closing the newsroom”.
City Press is one of South Africa’s best-known publications, with a history dating back to 1982. It was founded by Jim Bailey and the South African Associated Newspapers to serve black readers.
The publication was a key anti-apartheid voice and would be acquired by Naspers in 1984. Naspers is South Africa’s most valuable company, and owns Takealot and Media24.
City Press moved online-only at the end of 2024 after sustained circulation declines. It was incorporated into News24’s digital operations, but Media24 has now concluded that the model is not commercially viable.
We can confirm that we started consultations with the City Press staff this [Friday] morning, with the intention of closing this newsroom,” said Minette Ferreira, CEO of Media24.
“As a digital newsroom, incorporated into News24 after the closure of the print edition in 2024 as part of our transformation into a digitally led business, City Press did not meet our expectations.”
The closure is part of a broader restructuring within Media24. In 2024, the group ended the print editions of Beeld, Rapport, Daily Sun and Volksblad. Beeld, Rapport and Volksblad content migrated to Netwerk24, while Daily Sun became a digital-only brand. City Press content has been housed on News24.