Media24

Media24 forms part of the South African media assets historically developed within the Naspers group. In 2015 the company separated its printing division, Paarl Media Group, rebranding it as Novus Holdings and listing it on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

In 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated structural declines in print advertising and circulation, Media24 announced a restructuring of parts of its magazine and newspaper portfolios. The changes included closures, reduced frequencies, outsourced production and shifts to digital-only formats.

In 2020–21 Media24 proposed and completed the unwind of its Welkom Yizani broad-based black economic empowerment scheme through a cash repurchase of all Welkom Yizani shares, approved by shareholders in January 2021.

In October 2024 the company said it had received Competition Commission approval to sell its media logistics business, On the Dot, together with a portfolio of community and specialist publications, to Novus Holdings. The move was part of broader restructuring, as part of a new digital-first news strategy, centered on websites News24 and Netwerk24. Media24 said the final print editions of several titles would be published by 31 December 2024, with brands continuing digitally from January 2025.

In February 2026, the company began consultations on further print rationalisation, including the proposed closure of City Press.

In June 2026, Media24 posted a 27% decrease in revenue, and a R263 million loss - 60% larger than the previous year. The group attributed its 2026 results to a decline in legacy revenue, as well as investment costs associated with technology upgrades.

In July 2026, it was announced that CEO Raj Lalbahadur would step down and, from 1 September, be replaced by Head of Media24's Media Division Minette Ferreira.

Media24 has transitioned from a print‑centric model to a digital‑first approach in response to changing media consumption. The group is organised into three divisions:

Media24 Media – digital media, magazines, and advertising and content marketing services

Media24 TV – television production and broadcasting

Media24 Books – book publishing and distribution across educational and trade lists

Legal and regulatory matters

Between 2011 and 2019 Media24 was the subject of a predatory pricing complaint concerning its community newspapers in the Goldfields region. In 2015 the Competition Tribunal found a contravention of section 8(c) of the Competition Act and later imposed behavioural remedies. In March 2018 the Competition Appeal Court set aside the Tribunal’s decision on the merits. In July 2019 the Constitutional Court dismissed the Competition Commission’s appeal, leaving no contravention proven.