One of South Africa’s most recognisable newsroom brands is facing its final chapter as Media24 moves to close City Press, a title that for more than four decades shaped national debate and amplified voices often excluded from mainstream discourse.
Staff were informed on Friday that a formal consultation process has begun, signalling the likely shutdown of the newsroom after 43 years of operation. The announcement has sent shockwaves through the industry, not only because of the job implications but because of what the title represented in the country’s democratic journey.
City Press was founded in 1982 at the height of apartheid, with a clear mission to serve black readers and challenge the status quo through fearless reporting. It built a reputation for bold political coverage, investigative journalism, and commentary that often unsettled those in power. Its Sunday editions became essential reading across townships and suburbs alike, chronicling South Africa’s transformation from repression to democracy and beyond.
Digital Strategy Fails To Deliver
Media24 confirmed that the decision follows the underperformance of City Press in its digital format, after the print edition was closed in 2024 as part of a broader restructuring drive. The publication had been incorporated into News24’s digital operations, with expectations that it would thrive in an online environment. According to the company, those expectations were not met, prompting the consultation process now under way.
“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.
The CEO further explained the rationale behind the move, linking it directly to the group’s digital transition strategy.
“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.”
Media24 Restructures Its Stable
The proposed closure of City Press is not an isolated event but part of a sweeping reconfiguration within Media24’s publishing portfolio. In 2024, the company shuttered the print editions of Beeld, Rapport, Daily Sun and Volksblad, marking one of the most dramatic contractions in South Africa’s newspaper landscape in recent history. Some titles were migrated to digital platforms, while others were discontinued entirely, reflecting a decisive shift in corporate priorities.
Media24 has argued that declining print circulation and shrinking advertising revenue have made traditional newspaper models unsustainable. The move towards digital operations, executives maintain, is essential for long term viability. Yet critics within the industry warn that such transitions carry deep human costs, from newsroom retrenchments to the erosion of specialised beats and investigative capacity that once defined legacy publications.
Industry Faces Uncertain Future
The restructuring comes amid broader turbulence in South Africa’s media sector, where digital disruption has rewritten business models and audience habits. Newsrooms are grappling with competition from social media platforms, declining advertising yields and the challenge of converting online traffic into sustainable subscription revenue. While digital readership has grown, monetisation remains uneven, placing pressure on established brands to prove their financial viability.
The departure of editor Mondli Makhanya, who has transitioned into radio and will host the flagship Power Talk show on Power 98.7, adds another layer to this period of change. His move signals both personal career evolution and the shifting centre of gravity within South African media.
As consultations proceed and staff await clarity on their futures, the impending silence of City Press marks a profound moment for journalism in the country, one that reflects both economic reality and the fragile state of independent newsrooms in a rapidly transforming information landscape.