The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) expressed deep concern over ongoing waves of retrenchments across South African media houses, including at Primedia which owns brands like 702, KFM and Cape Talk. Primedia has 786 full-time employees and the number affected has not been announced. SANEF estimates around 700 media jobs have already been lost through retrenchments and publications closures. They note the hardship on journalists and problems for democracy from a shrinking media. SANEF is calling on stakeholders to support the industry through donations to their relief fund.

1.  Dispatch Building, Media Mill, 7 Quince Street, Braamfontein Werf, 2001 
 Tel 011 482 5771 / 6775  Fax 011 482 9132  046 338 NPO  www.sanef.org.za  director@sanef.org.za
SANEF deeply concerned by Primedia retrenchments
19 July 2020
The South AfricanNational Editors’Forum (SANEF) isdeeplyconcernedbythe ongoingwavesof
retrenchmentsatmediahousesacrossthe country – now also takingplace at Primedia.Primedia
includes702, KFMand Cape Talkas well asnational newsbrand Eye WitnessNews (EWN).The
PrimediaGrouphas786 fulltimeemployees,including323 at PrimediaBroadcasting,whichisthe
largestdivision.The mediacompanyhasnotannouncedhow manyemployeeswill be affected.
SANEFnotesthat thisannouncement,comeshotonthe heelsof Media24’sannouncementof a
possible 510 retrenchments,whichfollowsannouncementsof possible retrenchmentsof 600
employeesatthe SABC.
SANEFhas calculatedthatapproximately700 jobshave beenlostalreadythroughretrenchmentsin
the printmediasectorincludingthe closuresof AssociatedMediaPublishers(AMP),the sellingof
the magazine divisionof Caxtonandalsothe closuresof approximately80small printmedia
publications,acrossthe country, organisedunderthe umbrellaof the Associationof Independent
Publishers(AIP).
SANEFnotesthe severe hardshipsof journalistsandmediaworkerswhohave lost–and whoface –
the lossof theirjobs butalsothe problems fordemocracyof a shrinkingmediaindustrywith
shrinkingnewsroomsandfewerpublicationsandmediaentitiestocoverthe storiesof all our
citizens. We believethatSouthAfricaneedstohearmore voices – and fromall provinces - if we are
to ensure a robustand thrivingdemocracy.
We againcall on all stakeholderstosupportthe mediaindustryincludinggovernment,corporates
and individual citizens.We call ongovernmenttomake goodon itspromise tolookintowaysto
supportthe mediaindustry,apromise made byPresidentCyril Ramaphosainhisengagementwith
SANEFat the endof May, corporatesto continue to advertise,andcitizenstosupport the media
throughdonations,membershipfees,subscriptions andbuyinglocal newspapers.SANEFwillbe
takingup the President’sofferforsupport.

2. We warmlythankthe corporatesthat have made commitmentstoSANEF’s mediarelief fund
includingMTN (thatprovidedthe initialseedfundingof R500 000 andhas encouragedother
corporatesto support),FirstRandfor itscommitmenttoR500 000, and AlanGray and Nedbankfor
theircommitments.We alsothankthe OpenSociety Foundationfortheircommitment of R500 000.
These commitments have beenwarmlyreceived.We thankthe Social Justice Initiative (SJI) fortheir
supportas fiscal hostto the fundto oversee the distributionof fundsin line with transparent,
efficientandfairprocesses,andalsogive thanksto ourpanel of mediastalwartsincludingMathatha
Tsedu,Joe Thloloe andWandile Fana(Chairpersonof AIP) andMelodyEmmett(SAFREA Exco) who
will be makingthe decisionsaroundindividual grantstojournalistswho have losttheirincomes.
SANEFnotesthat the firstroundof applicationsisnow closed.The panel of mediastalwartswill start
theirworkinthe comingweek indistributingthe funds.SANEFwillbe announcingthe nextroundof
grants shortly.
Note to Editors: The SouthAfricanNational Editors’Forum(SANEF) isanon-profitorganisation
whose membersare editors,seniorjournalistsandjournalismtrainersfromall areasof the South
Africanmedia.We are committedtochampioningSouthAfrica’shard-wonfreedomof expression
and promotingquality,ethicsanddiversityinthe SouthAfricanmedia.We promote excellence in
journalismthroughfightingformediafreedom, writingpolicysubmissions,researchandeducation
and trainingprogrammes.SANEFisnot a union.
For more informationplease contact:
Katy Katopodis –SANEFDeputyChairperson,(082) 805-7022
Moipone Malefane –SANEFSecretary-General (082) 772-5861
Mary Papayya– SANEFMediaFreedomChair(082) 379-4957
SbuNgalwa– SANEFEasternCape Convenor(073) 404-1415
JanetHeard – SANEFWesternCape Convenor(078) 041-9528
Hopewell Radebe –SANEFGautengRegional Convenor(083) 582-1734
JudySandison – SANEFKZN Convenor(082) 571-3334
Kate Skinner– SANEFExecutive Director–(082) 926-6404
Twitter:@SAEditorsForum
Email:admin@sanef.org.zaWebsite:www.sanef.org.za