Media24 should first consider offer for Beeld, Rapport and others – Solidarity
12 July 2024
Solidarity made an urgent appeal to Media24 to stop the process of closing down Beeld, Daily Sun and City Press for now.
According to a spokesperson for Solidarity, the trade union is aware of the offer made by the competing Caxton Group to buy the mentioned titles.
Caxton has already approached the Competition Commission to oppose the closure of the titles and the sale of Media24’s On the Dot media logistics business. Solidarity also requested that this litigation process should be fully concluded before a process regarding the closure continues, and Solidarity will also consider entering into this process.
According to Johan Roos, organiser of Solidarity’s Communication and Marketing Network, a myriad more factors than just Media24's potential profit should be taken into account here.
“The decision to close down these newspapers will have far-reaching consequences for the entire media landscape in South Africa and certainly will leave a huge void. That is why we say the offer on the table deserves serious consideration at least.
“This may be a way out to save Beeld, Rapport and others from ruin, and it would be fair to at least listen to the offer.
“Could this be a lifeline for these iconic publications? Could it possibly save the careers of a large number of loyal employees? If the answer to that could be 'yes', why does Media24 still say 'no'?” Roos asked.
Solidarity believes it would be fair to all parties to apply the brakes with regard to the process for now so that the offer could be assessed on merit by all parties involved as an alternative to prevent retrenchments.
The significant role these newspapers play in the South African media landscape is also recognised by Solidarity, and therefore its legal team has been instructed to take action if Media24 does not act in the best interests of its employees and the newspaper titles.
Read Solidarity’s letter to Media24 here.
Issued by Johan Roos, Organiser: Communication and Marketing Network, Solidarity, 12 July 2024
