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Cape Times
Cape Times Logo
The front page of the Cape Times of 19 September 2008
TypeDaily newspaper
FormatBroadsheet
Owner(s)Independent News and Media SA
EditorSiyavuya Mzantsi[1]
News editorAshfak Mohamed
Sports editorIan Smit
Founded27 March 1876
HeadquartersNewspaper House, Cape Town, South Africa
Circulation34 523
Sister newspapersCape Argus
Websitewww.capetimes.co.za

The Cape Times is an English-language morning newspaper owned by Independent News & Media SA and published in Cape Town, South Africa.

As of 2012 the newspaper had a daily readership of 261000[2] and a circulation of 34523.[3] By the fourth quarter of 2014, circulation had declined to 31930.[4]

History

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The Cape Times had its origins in the great economic and social boom years that followed the Cape's attainment of "Responsible Government" (local democracy) in 1872.[5] The first edition of the newspaper, a small four-page sheet, was published on 27 March 1876 by then editor Frederick York St Leger. St Leger was assisted by Richard William Murray Jr, whose father of the same name had been one of the founding partners of the Cape Argus.[6] It was the first daily paper in southern Africa, and soon became one of the principal newspapers of the Cape.[7] Modelled on The Times, its primary target was the poor working class, as it attempted to expose early government corruption.

From 1936 the paper, along with its printing operation, occupied Newspaper House on Greenmarket Square.[8]

The Cape Times gained international prominence when it published an interview with the then banned leader of the African National Congress (ANC), Oliver Tambo in 1985. The interview, published in the Cape Times under the heading "A Conversation with Oliver Tambo of the ANC,” was an important event in South African history as it allowed the ANC to present its vision of a non-racial South Africa to the public and thereby alleviate fears held by White South Africans for a post-apartheid South Africa. This ultimately helped created the political conditions for the negotiated settlement that ended apartheid and established a non-racial democratic government.[9][10][11] The Cape Times editor that conducted the interview, Tony Heard, was later arrested and charged with contravening the Internal Security Act. The charges were later dropped.[12]

The paper was later bought by Irish group Independent News and Media, the South African portion, including the Cape Times, was sold to Sekunjalo Investments (Independent News and Media SA) in 2013.

Supplements

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  • Business Report (Mon-Fri)[13]
  • Career Times (Mon)[13]
  • Drive Times (Thur)[13]
  • Top Of The Times (Fri)[13]
  • Book Times (Once a month)[13]
  • Escape (Once a month)[13]
  • Health Times (Once a month)[13]
  • Play (Once a month)[13]

Controversies and criticisms

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The editor of the newspaper, Tony Heard, was sacked in 1987 after refusing a R1 million (equivalent to R14,653,000 in 2024)[14] offer to resign that contained conditions that, Heard alleged, would have muzzled him. The newspaper had decided to remove him following the publication of his interview with ANC leader, Oliver Tambo, almost two years prior, for which the paper was forced to pay a R300 admission-of-guilt fine for breaching the apartheid era Internal Security Act.[15][16]

Sekunjalo ownership: 2013 onwards

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Main article: Sekunjalo Investments § Accusations of undue interference at the Cape Times
Right2Know Campaign and other civil society organisations hold a picket outside Newspaper House to protest against the replacement of Cape Times editor Alide Dasnois. Also present at the demonstration are counter-demonstrators (waving printed red, white, and black placards with most members wearing t-shirts from Tripartite Alliance member organisations) demonstrating in favour of the replacement of Dasnois.

Since being taken over by Iqbal Survé's Sekunjalo Investments in 2013 the newspaper has experienced a number of scandals. Critics in the rest of the South African media, including former staff at the newspaper, allege that the newspaper's credibility has been damaged, the quality of journalism significantly reduced, and staff mistreated.[17][18][19]

On 16 April 2013 the Cape Times was cautioned by the Press Ombudsman "for untruthfully, inaccurately and unfairly suggesting that a poll showed that the majority of [Israeli] Jews believed that the Jewish state was practicing apartheid." The poll related to a hypothetical situation, whether Palestinians living in the West Bank should be allowed to vote if Israel annexed the territory, rather than the way that Israel was actually being governed at the time. The newspaper was directed to correct its mistake after a complaint by Sidney Kay.[20]

Then editor, Alide Dasnois, was dismissed by Survé following the publication of a story in the Cape Times that covered a report by the South African Public Protector that was critical of a tender awarded to a Sekunjalo subsidiary; the story was published on the same day as the death of former president Nelson Mandela on 5 December 2013. Sekunjalo was accused of dismissing Dasnois for publishing a story critical of a Survé owned company, Sekunjalo claimed that Dasnois was dismissed due to declining newspaper sales[21] and for not putting Mandela's death on the front page of the Cape Times.[22] The dismissal of Dasnois was seen as an attack on the independence of the media and widely criticized.[23][24][25][26][27][28] Sekunjalo and Dasnois settled out of court and issued a statement that acknowledged that Dasnois did not show disrespect to Mandela's legacy, nor was her conduct in any way motivated by racism.[29]

In January 2015 the company and its director Iqbal Survé were accused of pro-African National Congress (ANC) political bias in how they operated Independent News and Media SA and its subsidiary newspapers such as the Cape Times. The accusation of bias came about after executives at Independent News, the Cape Times partent company, Karima Brown and Vukani Mde, wore ANC colours at an ANC rally.[30] The accusations were first made by former Independent News columnist Max du Preez in his open resignation letter as reasons for his refusal to work for the company any longer.[31] Opposition leader Helen Zille stated that Skunjalo's operation of Independent media was an example of state capture that threatens both the independence of the media and the development of democracy in South Africa.[32]

The company was again criticised for its close links with the ANC and of allegedly having an anti-Democratic Alliance (DA) bias in a report on Al-Jazeera in March 2016.[33] The DA for its part was accused of trying to silence criticism from the Cape Times by threatening to cancel the City of Cape Town's subscription to that publication. In the same report the Cape Times rejected any accusation that it or any Sekunjalo owned publication was reporting unfairly towards any opposition political party.[33]

On 28 June 2016 The Press Ombudsman found "The Cape Times has repeatedly made this totally false allegation (stated as fact) on its front page over the course of several months, beginning in November last year."[34] In July 2016 the Cape Times was again ordered to issue a front-page apology to Premier Helen Zille, after making false allegations that she hired a spy. Despite this, the newspaper has failed to comply with the previous order, as handed down by Judge Bernard Ngoepe, Chair of the Press Council's Appeals Panel.[35]

16 August 2017, veteran journalist Ed Herbst debunked Cape Times claims of it receiving awards, "has run a series of front-page articles claiming that an international media organisation, Newseum, has rated the front page of the Iqbal Survé-owned newspaper as among the best in the world." The reports turned out to be untrue.[36]

Famous staff and contributors

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Distribution areas

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Distribution[37]
2008 2013
Eastern Cape Y Y
Free State
Gauteng
Kwa-Zulu Natal
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
North West
Northern Cape
Western Cape Y Y

Distribution figures

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Circulation[38]
Net Sales
Oct - Dec 2015 33 030[39]
Jun - Aug 2015 31 200[39]
Jan - Mar 2015 32 371[40]
Oct - Dec 2014 31 930[4]
Jan - Mar 2014 33 986[40]
Oct - Dec 2012 34 627
Jul - Sep 2012 34 523
Apr - Jun 2012 37 948
Jan - Mar 2012 42 139

Readership figures

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Estimates of readership are maintained by the SAARF with 95% confidence intervals of about 15%. Within the estimated error readership has remained constant since 2009. Methodological changes introduced in 2009 by SAARF make comparison to previous years difficult.[41]

Estimated Readership[42]
'000s ± '000 (95%)
Jan '09 - Dec '09 215 33
Jul '09 - Jun '10 253 36
Jan '10 - Dec '10 268 37
Jul '10 - Jun '11 231 35
Jan '11 - Dec '11 225 33
Jul '11 - Jun '12 261 36
Jan '12 - Dec '12 258 36
Jul '12 - Jun '13 251 38
Dec '13 215 35
Jun '14 200 33
Dec '14 235 36
Jun '15 234 36

See also

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External sources

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  • Shaw, Gerald (2000). The Cape Times: An Informal History. David Philip Publishers. ISBN 0864864043.
  • Cape Times Collection, University of Cape Town Libraries

References

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  1. ^ "Historic new appointments at Independent Media". IOL. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Average issue readership of newspapers and magazines" (PDF). All Media Products Survey. South African Advertising Research Foundation. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  3. ^ Moodie, Gill (21 November 2012). "ABC Q3 figures forecast tough times". BizCommunity. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Which papers rose (not many) & which fell [ABC circulation Q4 2014]". Biznews.com. 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Data" (PDF). repository.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
  6. ^ Shaw, Gerald (1975). Some Beginnings: The Cape Times 1876-1910. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195700716. p.xiii.
  7. ^ Shaw, Gerald (1999). The Cape Times: An Informal History, Cape Town: David Philip.
  8. ^ Nevill, Glenda (4 November 2011). "The changing face of Western Cape newspapers". The Media Online. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Trailblazing South African journalist Tony Heard, NF '88, dies at 86". Nieman Foundation. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  10. ^ Weaver, Tony (27 March 2024). "Tony Heard: a journalist and one of the bravest men I have known". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  11. ^ Battersby, John (28 March 2024). "Tony Heard's final wave: A fighter for social justice and media freedom". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  12. ^ Battersby, John (28 March 2024). "Tony Heard's final wave: A fighter for social justice and media freedom". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h "Cape Times Website". Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  14. ^ South Africa – Consumer price index, International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.[dubious – discuss]
  15. ^ "Sacked editor Tony Heard speaks". The Mail & Guardian. 13 August 1987. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Independent Newspapers Holdings Ltd v. Suliman". Global Freedom of Expression. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  17. ^ Haffajee, Ferial. "Ferial Haffajee: Iqbal Survé and how not to lead". Business. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  18. ^ Bruce, Peter (21 November 2019). "The writing's on the wall for Iqbal Survé". The Media Online. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  19. ^ Whitfield, Alide Dasnois and Chris (27 October 2019). "Paper Tiger: Newsrooms were torn apart by suspicion, recrimination and a witch hunt after Iqbal Survé fired Alide Dasnois". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  20. ^ "The Press Ombudsman". www.presscouncil.org.za.
  21. ^ Surve, Iqbal (9 December 2013). "Statement by executive Director Dr Iqbal Surve". Independent Media SA. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  22. ^ "Dasnois papers: Survé made rants and threats". News24. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  23. ^ Tshabalala, Sibusiso (11 February 2014). "We should write for our readers, not the owner “" an interview with Ann Crotty". GroundUp News. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  24. ^ van der Westhuizen, Christi (13 December 2013). "South Africa: Cape Times in crisis as editor fired after corruption story". Index on Censorship. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  25. ^ "Demonstration in South Africa calls for reinstatement of Cape Times editor". ifex. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  26. ^ "SA Pen concerned by Cape Times editor's dismissal". The Sowetan. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  27. ^ Adriaan Basson; et al. (9 December 2013). "SANEF shocked and concerned at axing of Alide Dasnois". South African National Editors Forum. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  28. ^ "FXI is deeply concerned about suggestions of inappropriate managerial interference in the editorial independence of the Cape Time". 10 December 2013. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ^ "Cape Times Settlement: Dasnois takes paper to Press Ombud after legal breach | Daily Maverick". www.dailymaverick.co.za. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  30. ^ Phumzile van Damme (20 January 2015). "Karima Brown & Vukani Mde's ANC colours: Press Ombudsman should adjudicate - DA". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  31. ^ Max du Preez (15 January 2015). "A letter to Karima Brown". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  32. ^ Helen Zille (18 January 2015). "An open letter to Iqbal Survé - Helen Zille". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  33. ^ a b Jacob Zuma's friends and foes in South Africa's media - The Listening Post (Feature) (Video). Al Jazeera: English. 20 March 2016. Event occurs at 5:27.
  34. ^ "Cape Times Violated The Press Code, Press Council Panel Rules".
  35. ^ "Cape Times Violation of Press Council Ruling Must Be Urgently Rectified".
  36. ^ "Cape Times in desperate search for sunshine | the Messenger". Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  37. ^ "Cape Times Website". Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  38. ^ "ABC - Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa".
  39. ^ a b "ABC Q4 Presentation". Audit Bureau of Circulations. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  40. ^ a b "ABC Analysis Q1 2015: The biggest-circulating newspapers in South Africa". Marklives.com.
  41. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  42. ^ "SAARF".
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