Our Impact
The Digital News Transformation Fund is built on a commitment to transparency, accountability, and learning. While we begin this journey, our intent is clear: to strengthen independent publishing, share insights openly, and measure impact in ways that benefit the entire industry.
| Beneficiary (Legal Entity) | Newsroom / Trading Name | Project Summary | Approved Amount (ZAR) | Funding Period | Funding Tier | Province | Established/Registered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upstream Media (Pty) Ltd | Currency News | The project supports the next phase of growth for Currency, an independent digital business news platform launched in 2024 to strengthen financial literacy and in-depth economic reporting in South Africa. Funding will upgrade digital infrastructure, integrate CMS and API systems with coalition partners, translate more than 200 articles into isiXhosa and isiZulu, expand multimedia production, and formalise a coalition of quality business publishers. The work broadens access to trusted business journalism, diversifies audiences beyond English-speaking elites, builds training pathways for new journalists, and strengthens revenue through subscriptions, events, and cross-platform advertising. | 1010000 | 12 Months | Engage | Gauteng | 2024 |
| WhatsNews (Pty) Ltd | Explain News | The project supports the scaling of explain.co.za through a newsroom–influencer hybrid model that delivers fact-checked, social-first video explainers. Funding will partner with at least five credible news influencers to produce 100+ short videos, pilot two new revenue streams through open social advertising and voluntary audience contributions, and publish a sector playbook with a national workshop. The work expands access to trusted journalism on platforms where young South Africans consume news, counters misinformation ahead of the 2026 local elections, and builds sustainable revenue pathways for independent digital publishers. | 1193058 | 12 months | Engage | Gauteng | 2019 |
| Papasha Media (Pty) Ltd | The Olifants News | The project supports the digital transformation of Olifants News, a township-based community publication serving Tembisa and surrounding areas. Funding will relaunch the outlet as a mobile-first digital community hub with an upgraded website, integrated CMS and CRM, a video-driven business directory, and a structured membership system. The work introduces a weekly newsletter and podcast, trains 20 community storytellers, and pilots diversified revenue streams through memberships and directory listings to build a sustainable digital ecosystem rooted in township journalism. | 700000 | 12 months | Grow | Gauteng | 2015 |
| Williams 2050 (Pty) Ltd | Indaba News and Meer | The project supports the digital transformation of Indaba News & Meer, a community publication in Graaff-Reinet, from print dependence to a multilingual, digital-first newsroom. Funding will launch a low-bandwidth website in isiXhosa, Afrikaans and English, establish a local podcast studio producing weekly shows, recruit and train digital staff, and build a 75-group WhatsApp distribution network. The work restores access to verified local news in the Karoo, strengthens municipal accountability reporting, and diversifies revenue through advertising, partnerships, and podcast studio rentals to ensure long-term sustainability. | 737600 | 12 months | Grow | Eastern Cape | 2021 |
| Xenor Projects | Orange Farm News, Globe Post, Walkerville & Savanna City Times | The project supports the digital transformation of Xenor Projects, publisher of Globe Post, Orange Farm News, and Walkerville & Savanna City Times, serving township communities across Johannesburg’s Deep South. Funding will rebuild three websites with a modern CMS and ad management capability, procure laptops and multimedia equipment, hire dedicated digital, sales, and multimedia staff, and launch memberships, classifieds, newsletters, and paid WhatsApp channels. The work strengthens solutions-driven, multilingual journalism in isiZulu and seSotho, grows digital revenue to reduce reliance on print, and positions Xenor as a digitally agile, community-rooted newsroom with sustainable income streams. | 699421 | 12 months | Grow | Gauteng | 1992 |
| Highveld Chronicle | Highveld Chronicle | The project supports the digital expansion of Highveld Chronicle, a community publication serving the Nkangala District. Funding will launch a redesigned mobile-friendly website and app, produce over 100 low-data media pieces in IsiNdebele and English, and install public connectivity stations to improve access in rural and semi-urban areas. The work strengthens investigative reporting on mining, health and social issues, promotes IsiNdebele language and culture, and builds sustainable digital revenue through online advertising and small-business marketing platforms. | 514000 | 12 months | Grow | Mpumalanga | 2023 |
| Rhodes University | Grocott's Mail | The project supports the digital transformation of Grocott’s Mail, a 155-year-old community newspaper in Makhanda owned by Rhodes University. Funding will strengthen core digital infrastructure, including an advanced CMS, social media monitoring tools, a data-light mobile app, and AI-assisted multilingual publishing. The work expands reach into underserved townships, deepens community listening through engagement events, increases vernacular content in isiXhosa and Afrikaans, and pilots diversified advertising and sponsorship models to improve long-term sustainability. | 620640 | 12 months | Grow | Eastern Cape | 1870 |
| Winelands Echo | Winelands Echo | The project supports the digital transition of Winelands Echo, a long-standing free community newspaper in the Cape Winelands. Funding will upgrade equipment, redesign the website into a mobile-first multimedia platform, launch podcasts and live streaming, and introduce a “Support Local” business directory. The work expands access to hyperlocal, multilingual news for rural and urban communities, attracts younger audiences through video and social integration, and strengthens sustainability through digital advertising, partnerships, and new online revenue streams. | 679000 | 12 months | Grow | Western Cape | 2007 |
| Vutivi Business News | Vutivi Business News | The project supports the expansion of Vutivi Business News through the launch of the Vutivi Club, a digital membership platform for SMMEs, and the Vutivi Podcast, focused on practical business storytelling. Funding will build a secure member dashboard, produce weekly journalism and 20+ podcast episodes, host webinars and networking events, and secure strategic partnerships and sponsorships. The work strengthens access to credible, actionable business news for small enterprises, particularly rural women, youth, and township entrepreneurs, while building a sustainable membership and sponsorship revenue model. | 619000 | 12 months | Grow | Gauteng | 2020 |
| The Voice of Africa | The Voice of Africa | The project supports the launch of “Men Speak Up,” a 12-month digital journalism and advocacy initiative by The Voice of Africa focused on prostate health awareness in South Africa. Funding will build a dedicated multimedia platform and Prostate Health Data Hub, produce 30+ stories, host expert webinars and community screenings, and run monthly digital campaigns to reduce stigma and promote early detection. The work strengthens health-focused journalism, expands audience reach, builds strategic partnerships with health institutions, and establishes a sustainable digital model for ongoing public education on men’s health. | 700000 | 12 months | Grow | Gauteng | 2025 |
| East Griqualand Printers CC | Kokstad Advertiser | The project supports the digital transformation of The Kokstad Advertiser, a long-standing community newspaper in East Griqualand. Funding will redesign its website, launch a weekly e-newsletter, produce short-form video content, and pilot digital revenue streams including sponsored content and online classifieds. The work strengthens audience reach, builds digital skills within the newsroom, and shifts the publication from print dependence toward a sustainable, digitally driven community news platform. | 326000 | 12 months | Build | Kwa Zulu Natal | 1988 |
| BT News | BT News | The project supports the digital transformation of BT News, a peri-urban community publisher based in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal. Funding will establish a mobile-first bilingual website, strengthen low-data distribution through WhatsApp, and build analytics and digital skills capacity. The work expands access to timely, public-interest news for youth, women, and underserved communities across southern KZN. | 329190 | 12 months | Build | Kwa Zulu Natal | 2017 |
| Eagle Eye News | Eagle Eye News | The project supports the digital expansion of Eagle Eye News, a community publication serving the Joe Gqabi District in the Eastern Cape. Funding will launch a website, podcast, Facebook and TikTok platforms, and strengthen its WhatsApp distribution to grow and engage its 88,000-strong audience. The work positions the outlet as a digital platform focused on youth and education, using news, competitions and community events to drive literacy initiatives and long-term sustainability. | 280000 | 12 months | Build | Eastern Cape | 2006 |
| Zebra Digital Media (Pty) Ltd | Dear SA | The project supports the launch and build phase of Dear SA, a digital-first civic accountability platform by Zebra Digital Media. Funding will establish a multilingual, mobile-first CMS, onboard community journalists and translators, publish 200 verified community and NGO impact stories, and pilot newsletters, podcasts, subscriptions, and sponsored content. The work strengthens transparency between communities, NGOs and CSI funders, amplifies vernacular voices, and builds diversified digital revenue streams to sustain public-interest journalism focused on local impact and accountability. | 290000 | 12 months | Build | Gauteng | 2012 |
| Stokvel Media Hub (Pty) Ltd | Stokvel Talk | The project supports the launch of the Stokvel Talk Podcast, a digital expansion of an established community media platform serving stokvel members in Ekurhuleni. Funding will strengthen digital infrastructure, introduce weekly youth-focused business podcasts, and enable live reporting and streaming from monthly stokvel roadshow events. The work expands digital reach among younger audiences, builds financial literacy content rooted in stokvel culture, and pilots new revenue streams through sponsorships, advertising, and memberships to ensure long-term sustainability. | 280000 | 12 months | Build | Gauteng | 2018 |
| Mpiyonke's Dream Trading | The Informer Newspaper | The project supports the digital growth of The Informer Newspaper, a community-based publication focused on youth development, social cohesion, and local storytelling. Funding will strengthen its digital infrastructure, expand multimedia content production, and build structured audience engagement across online platforms. The work increases access to trusted, community-driven news, amplifies youth voices, and lays the foundation for diversified digital revenue and long-term sustainability. | 300000 | 12 months | Build | Eastern Cape | 2007 |
| Zini Advertising (Pty) Ltd | Kasi Chronicle | The project supports the digital relaunch of Kasi Chronicle by Zini Advertising, transitioning a former print community title into a mobile-first local news platform. Funding will launch a fast WordPress website, introduce a weekly newsletter and WhatsApp tipline, publish 4–6 local stories per week, and establish SME advertising packages and a voluntary membership model. The work restores a trusted source of verified neighbourhood news in Vlakfontein, Lehae, Phumlaqashi and surrounding areas, strengthens community engagement through reader forums, and builds diversified local revenue to sustain independent journalism. | 280000 | 12 months | Build | Gauteng | 2015 |
| Inkundla Yezindaba Trading and Enterprise | Inkundla Yezindaba Community Newspaper | The project supports the digital transformation of Inkundla Yezindaba, a hyperlocal isiZulu community newspaper serving the 1.5 million residents of the INK/PINK region in KwaZulu-Natal. Funding will upgrade core digital infrastructure, launch a mobile-optimised website and WhatsApp news service, strengthen multimedia capacity, and pilot new digital revenue streams. The work reduces reliance on print, combats misinformation, expands access to trusted low-data news, and builds a sustainable, community-first digital platform rooted in isiZulu journalism. | 245000 | 12 months | Build | Kwa Zulu Natal | 2020 |
| Dikelethu Trading | Queens Town Innovation & News Hub | The project supports the establishment of the Queens Town Innovation & News Hub, a digital-first initiative serving Queenstown and surrounding rural villages in the Eastern Cape. Funding will set up an internet café with starter data access, deliver 12 months of digital journalism and AI literacy training for rural journalists, and pilot a SIM-based mobile subscription and marketplace model. The work expands access to credible isiXhosa and English news, strengthens digital literacy, and tests blended revenue streams through subscriptions, advertiser micro-sites, and connectivity services to build a sustainable rural media model. | 200000 | 12 months | Build | Eastern Cape | 2012 |
| The Sports Eye News and Projects | The Sports Eye News | The project supports the digital growth of The Sports Eye News, a long-standing community sports publication based in Bloemfontein serving rural communities across the Free State and parts of the North West. Funding will redesign and relaunch its website, strengthen social media platforms, train staff in digital publishing, and shift the model from print dependence toward a stronger online presence. The work expands digital reach among young people, improves access to local sports development news, and builds new revenue streams through online advertising and subscriptions to ensure long-term sustainability. | 250000 | 12 months | Build | Free State | 2009 |
| Thaba Chweu News and Printing | Thaba Chweu News | The project supports the digital launch of Thaba Chweu News, a free print community newspaper serving the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality. Funding will develop and deploy a mobile-friendly website to publish real-time news in Siswati, isiZulu, and English, strengthen digital workflows, and introduce online advertising and membership revenue streams. The work reduces reliance on print, expands reach to younger and digitally active audiences, and positions the publication for long-term sustainability in a shifting media environment. | 250000 | 12 months | Build | Mpumalanga | 2025 |