Media24 moves to end City Press after 43 years

One of South Africa’s most iconic publications, City Press, is set to close after its owner, Media24, began consultations with staff on Friday. The group confirmed that it has initiated a formal consultation process with employees aimed at closing the newsroom, citing that the publication’s digital model has failed to meet expectations. According to reports, Media24 CEO Minette Ferreira said the company would seek to limit job losses where possible while winding down the 43-year-old newsroom.

“We can confirm that we started consultations with the City Press staff this [Friday] morning, with the intention of closing this newsroom,” Minette Ferreira, CEO of Media24, said according to News24. “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.” Founded in 1982 to serve black readers during apartheid, City Press became renowned for its bold political reporting and investigative stories.Over the years, it grew into a national Sunday newspaper covering politics, business, lifestyle, and sport. Founded in 1982 to serve black readers during apartheid, City Press became renowned for its bold political reporting and investigative stories.

In 2024, Media24 also closed the printeditions of other major newspapers, including Beeld, Rapport, Daily Sun, and Volksblad, moving some titles online and ending others entirely. The company said these steps were part of a strategy to focus on digital media amid declining print circulation and advertising revenue. The decision also follows the departure of editor Mondli Makhanya, who has moved into radio and will host the flagship Power Talk show on Power 98.7.