PRINT ADVERTISING IN SOUTH AFRICA
PRINT ADVERTS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Empire can help place your advertisement in the best national and local publications to ensure great reach and high recall from the South African readers.South Africa’s print sector is steeply multilingual and consolidating fast, dominated by a handful of houses: Media24 (Naspers), publisher of City Press and the Afrikaans Rapport and Netwerk24; Arena Holdings, behind the Sunday Times, Business Day and Sowetan; Independent Media, owner of The Star and Cape Times; and community-heavy Caxton. Circulation is falling sharply as readers shift to digital, yet flagship Sunday titles and local community papers retain meaningful reach. For advertisers, that means treating mass print as a narrowing, premium buy while leaning on weekend and regional titles for durable, targeted audiences.
With a mix of broad mass and a range of highly niche publications, Empire is able to offer print ad campaigns that are specific to your needs and guaranteed to reach your target audience.
READY TO ADVERTISE?
ADVERTISE IN THESE SOUTH AFRICAn PUBLICATIONS
Only Afrikaans parenting magazine in South Africa, covers all aspects of pregnancy, birth, babies and toddlers.
Afrikaans-language daily, printed six days a week
National daily newspaper in South Africa, published from Monday to Friday and also available as an e-paper. Reporting on corporate news, black economic empowerment, economic policy, corporate governance and financial markets.
Daily newspaper that now offers a morning edition as well as its traditional afternoon offering covering serious, general and political news from the region, but also entertainment and sport.
English-language morning newspaper, aimed at the middle classes of Cape Town, offering breaking city and national news, and in-depth coverage of politics, business and sport.
A Sunday English newspaper, that carries news from South Africa and the rest of the world and has separate sports, business and careers sections. Award-winning journalists and social commentators contribute to its opinion and analysis section Voices.
Daily newspaper that covers areas such as local news, sports, politics, business, jobs, and community events, published in English.
Daily Newspaper aimed at the workers of the Cape Flats (Western Cape). Published in Afrikaans and English, news that is both informative and entertaining.
Daily Afrikaans-language newspaper.
The magazine with the highest circulation in South Africa. Winning recipe of news, human interest stories and advice is based on excellent articles that inform, entertain, educate and touch readers, making it the most read a magazine in SA
Afrikaans-language South African tabloid reporting sensational news. The newspaper appears as a daily paper in some provinces and in other provinces as a weekly paper.
A English Weekly business publication focused on reaching the country’s top business people.
Daily isiZulu newspaper, aimed at KwaZulu-Natal’s middle class, covering local, national and international subject matter is covered – news, business, sport, entertainment and classifieds.
The biggest and most influential magazine for the agricultural sector.
It’s a guide to living better, healthier, fuller lives, and it covers every aspect, from fitness and health through to wealth, style, relationships, food and travel
Daily newspaper local news, as well as national and international news, comment and analysis by experts, sport, entertainment and lifestyle. The daily Tonight supplement highlights what’s happening on the entertainment front.
Afrikaans Sunday national newspaper (Also distributed in Namibia) offers exclusive news on politics, sport and people, 16 pages with opinions, analyses and book reviews in Weekliks, lifestyle news in Beleef, business news in Sake, job opportunities in Loopbane and a newsmaker profile by Hanlie Retief.
Glossy magazine of choice for the Afrikaans-speaking woman with a modern view of the world.
The biggest Sunday newspaper; the paper includes a lifestyle (features, travel, food) and Business Times sections
Tabloid-style newspaper distributed nationally, published six days a week about News, sport, business – and racing
“English Daily newspaper reporting of local, national and international news
and sport. “
The Sowetan is an English-language South African daily newspaper, Aimed at an English-literate black readership
The Witness (previously The Natal Witness) is a daily english newspaper, South Africa’s oldest newspaper
Afrikaans-language daily newspaper
A monthly magazine aimed at outdoor enthusiasts
Frequently Asked Questions
What influences the cost of print advertising in South Africa?
Print costs reflect the title’s circulation and readership, ad size, colour versus mono, page position, and whether placement is run-of-paper or premium. Special editions and festive features carry higher rates. The Empire negotiates with publishers and provides a tailored quote based on the titles and frequency that match your objectives.
Which newspapers and titles reach which readers in South Africa?
The Sunday Times is the leading national weekend title with broad, upmarket readership. Sowetan connects strongly with urban Black audiences, while the Daily Sun built a large mass-market, working-class following. The Mail & Guardian reaches an analytical, current-affairs readership. The Empire selects titles, including community and language press, to align with your target market.
What are the content and approval requirements for print adverts in South Africa?
Print advertising follows the Advertising Regulatory Board’s Code of Advertising Practice, so creative must be honest, decent and respectful of local cultural and language sensitivities, with claims properly substantiated. Publishers review material before publication. The Empire prepares compliant artwork and manages publisher approvals so your advert meets all editorial and regulatory standards.
When is the best time to advertise in print in South Africa?
Print activity rises with the festive season in November and December and the surrounding retail period including Black Friday, with January back-to-school and seasonal retail moments offering further opportunities. Weekend editions deliver the widest reach. The Empire advises on timing and books premium festive positions early, as space fills quickly during peaks.