Cape Town – One of South Africa’s most recognisable Sunday titles, City Press, could soon shut its doors after parent company Media24 confirmed it has begun formal consultations with staff about closing the newsroom.
According to TimesLIVE, Media24 initiated a statutory consultation process on Friday, 27 February 2026, in terms of Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act, a process required when possible retrenchments are on the table.
The publication reported that the company has signalled its intention to close the City Press newsroom following the paper’s transition to a digital-only model in December 2024.
As stated by BusinessTech, Media24 CEO Minette Ferreira confirmed the development, saying, “We can confirm that we started consultations with the City Press staff this morning, with the intention of closing this newsroom.”
Ferreira said that the decision follows the publication’s shift away from print at the end of 2024, a move that formed part of Media24’s broader digital transformation strategy. However, she acknowledged that the digital-only model “did not meet our expectations.”
She further indicated that the consultation process is being conducted in line with legal requirements and stressed that the company would explore options to reduce the impact on employees.
As reported by News24, City Press had already ceased its print edition amid declining circulation numbers and shrinking advertising revenue, pressures that have weighed heavily on traditional media houses both locally and globally. Its journalism had since been integrated into News24’s digital ecosystem as Media24 streamlined its operations.
City Press was founded in 1982 and became widely regarded as a powerful Sunday voice, particularly during the apartheid era. It built a legacy of hard-hitting political reporting and investigative journalism, shaping national conversations for more than four decades. Over the years, it was led by prominent editors who helped cement its place in South Africa’s media landscape.
The possible closure comes as Media24 continues to restructure its portfolio in response to changing consumer habits and the financial realities facing print media.
In recent years, the company has ended several print editions and accelerated its focus on digital platforms in a bid to remain commercially viable.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
