Western Cape Publications

DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette has been the heartbeat of the Helderberg for nine decades. DistrictMail was established as a newspaper in 1928, with the goal of keeping the communities it serves informed. Helderberg Gazette was founded in 1998, as a free title distributed to the same communities.

The two titles were amalgamated in May 2022, now running as a free title with a 36 000 print order, distributed every Wednesday.

Over the years, the newspaper has become the most trusted local news source in the region. Our mission is simple: to bring the community of the Helderberg accurate news of what is happening on their doorsteps; be the first point-of-call for readers to find hyper-local content; and deliver impactful stories to make a difference in the community.

From municipal news and crime to community collaborations, victories on the sporting fields and events true to the Basin, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette is committed to sharing the stories that define our diverse communities.

As the leading local publication, we make it our duty to inform, inspire, and connect the residents of Helderberg.

DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette has always been community-focused, serving as a vital link between the people of the Helderberg. The newspaper emphasises its community focus through:

• Local news coverage: The newspaper primarily covers news that directly impacts the local region, including Somerset West, Strand, Gordon’s Bay, Macassar and Sir Lowry’s Pass, among other. We report on local government decisions, community events, and other significant happenings in the area.
• Community events: We often highlight local events, from cultural festivals to charitable activities, helping to promote community engagement and participation.
• Support for local initiatives: By spotlighting local businesses, schools, and initiatives, we support economic and social development within the community.
• Public issues and opinions: We provide a platform for community members to express their opinions and concerns, fostering open dialogue and addressing local issues.
• Special features: The newspaper includes sections dedicated to specific interests such as local sports, lifestyle, and human interest stories that resonate with the community.
• Digital presence and engagement: With the advent of digital media, DistrictMail & Helderberg has expanded its presence online, enabling it to reach a broader audience while still maintaining its community-centric approach through online articles and social media interactions.

By focusing on these aspects, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette is a trusted source of news and information that reflects the interests and needs of its readership. We are committed to supporting and uplifting the community through in-depth reporting, feature stories, and investigative pieces that shine a light on both the challenges and triumphs of the Helderberg.

Eikestadnuus has been the newspaper of choice in the greater Stellenbosch area for seven decades. The newspaper was established as a sold newspaper in 1950, with the goal of keeping the communities it serves informed.  

It transformed into a free title, with a 23 000 print order distributed every Wednesday.  

Over the years, the newspaper has become the most trusted local news sources in the region. Our mission is simple: to bring the community of Stellenbosch and surrounds accurate news of what is happening on their doorsteps; be the first point-of-call for readers to find hyper-local content; and deliver impactful stories to make a difference in the community. 

From municipal news and crime to community collaborations, victories on the sporting fields and events true to the Winelands, Eikestadnuus is committed to sharing the stories that define our diverse communities.  

We are committed to supporting and uplift the community through reporting, human interest stories and news that shine a light on both the challenges and triumphs of the communities in our distribution area.

Hermanus Times is the oldest newspaper in the region and the heartbeat of the Overberg. Since its first edition in 1949 the then-named Hermanus News has grown with local residents and made its mark as a trusted source in the local, social, economic and political fields.

The first issue appeared on 17 September 1949 with the slogan “A newspaper devoted to the interests of Hermanus and district and surrounding seaside resorts”.

And from 2020, the vision to bring credible news to its readers was expanded to the entire Overberg when the Theewaterskloof Gazette was incorporated into Hermanus Times.

The award-winning editorial team provides the readers with accurate, balanced and impactful articles about the region – from local government to community news – Hermanus Times is committed to sharing the stories that define our region.

The dynamic advertising team provides a wide variety of advertising options, both in print and digital format, to suit every budget and to meet the desired target market of local and national advertisers.

With more than 500 distribution points in the circulation area, this free weekly newspaper is available in Hermanus, Kleinmond, Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay, Grabouw, Villiersdorp, Bot River, Greyton, Myddleton, Tesselaarsdal, Riviersonderend, Caledon, Napier, Bredasdorp, Elim, Gansbaai, Pearly Beach and Stanford. The bilingual readership consists of people from all races and age groups, and serves the LSM market from 1 to 10.

At Hermanus Times we are committed to supporting and uplifting the community through in-depth reporting, feature stories, and investigative pieces that shine a light on both the challenges and triumphs of the valley.

FCJ Excellence Awards 2022: Hermanus Times received the AVBOB Best Community Involvement Award for its Nomzamo Educare Centre project at the Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) Excellence Awards for 2022.

From local governance to community celebrations, the Standard & Gazette is committed to sharing the stories that define our towns. As the leading local publication, we make it our duty to inform, inspire, and connect the residents of Worcester, Rawsonville, De Doorns, Wolseley, Robertson, Ashton, Bonnievale and Montagu.

We are committed to supporting and uplifting the community through in-depth reporting, feature stories, and investigative pieces that shine a light on both the challenges and triumphs of the Swartland.

• Local News and Events: The Swartland Gazette provides in-depth coverage of events and developments in the region, from crime reporting and municipal and agricultural news to local festivals, ensuring that residents are well-informed about what’s happening in their communities.
• Support for Local Businesses: The newspaper often highlights local businesses, offering them exposure and opportunities to connect with their customer base. This can help foster economic growth and encourage residents to support local enterprises.
• Community Initiatives: The Swartland Gazette frequently reports on charity events, volunteer efforts, and local initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life in the Swartland area.
• Coverage of Local Sports: The paper often covers local sports events and achievements, showcasing the talents of athletes within the region. This not only promotes sports but also strengthens community spirit and pride.
• Focus on Education: The newspaper highlights achievements in local schools and educational initiatives, often featuring student achievements, school events, and educational milestones within the community.
• Swartland Gazette Sanitary Drive: For the past six years, the sanitary towel drive has aimed to lighten the load of a young girl in need by encouraging residents to donate sanitary pads which is then distributed to rural schools in the area.

The Worcester Standard & Breederivier Gazette has been the voice of the Breede Valley and Langeberg communities for decades. Established with the goal of keeping our communities informed, we have grown into one of the most trusted local news sources in the region. Our mission is simple: to bring our communities the latest news, impactful stories, and insightful opinions that matter most to our readers.

We are committed to supporting and uplifting the community through in-depth reporting, feature stories, and investigative pieces that shine a light on both the challenges and triumphs of the valley.

Weslander has been the main source of reliable news for the West Coast (Weskus) for 53 years. The newspaper has a strong community focus and is a good source for local, hyper-local stories, often covering topics that might not make it to larger national newspapers. It provides a voice to smaller communities, helping connect residents and highlighting issues that matter most to them.

We are committed to supporting and uplifting the community through in-depth reporting and feature stories that shine a light on both the challenges and triumphs of Weskus.

• Local Volunteer Efforts: The paper often features stories about local community members organising charity events, food drives, or support for vulnerable groups such as the elderly or those affected by natural disasters. These types of initiatives are a regular part of the paper’s community section.
• Business Successes: Local entrepreneurs or businesses that have achieved significant milestones (such as anniversaries, expansions, or innovative new services) often get covered. This helps promote local businesses and boost community morale.
• Environmental Initiatives: With the Weskus being a coastal region, environmental conservation efforts are frequently highlighted. Local initiatives to protect marine life, beaches, or other natural resources might be showcased.
• Cultural and Sporting Events: Achievements in arts, culture, and sports often take center stage. For example, local schools might be recognized for their students’ achievements in sports or arts competitions, or community events like local festivals and exhibitions could be celebrated.
• Educational Milestones: Local schools and educational institutions might also be highlighted for achievements such as academic awards, special projects, or successful matriculant graduation rates.
• Social Development: Programs aimed at improving living standards, addressing poverty, or offering support to underprivileged communities are often featured. This can include success stories from NGOs or community centres.
• Our Readers’ Matter: Mid 2024, we reduced our cover price from R9,50 to R4 to make the newspaper more affordable to our readers amidst tough economic times and in efforts to boost circulation which has proven successful.
• Weskus Warriors: Stories of individuals making a difference in our community.
• Community Events: Coverage of festivals, gatherings, and celebrations happening in Weskus.

FCJ Excellence Awards: In 2022, Weslander was named runner-up in the category for Best Front Page of the Year at Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) Excellence Awards for 2021 and were also among the top 8 finalists for Newspaper of the Year (sold title; circulation over 5000) and again in 2023, recognising our dedication to quality journalism and community reporting. Our editorial and sales team have also racked up several accolades in both local and national competitions over the years.

WeskusNuus Atlantis is a freesheet local newspaper, focusing on news and events from the broader Atlantis, Mamre and Pella area. It provides local coverage on a variety of topics, including community events, politics, social issues, and economic developments that affect the community.

We are committed to supporting and uplifting the community through in-depth reporting, feature stories, and investigative pieces that shine a light on both the challenges and triumphs of the Swartland.

• Highlighting Local Stories: WeskusNuus gives a voice to smaller towns and underrepresented communities in the West Coast, often covering local heroes, community events, and grassroots projects that might otherwise be overlooked by larger publications. This helps foster a sense of pride and identity among locals.
• Supporting Local Businesses: By covering local business successes, promoting local enterprises, and providing a platform for smaller businesses to advertise and gain visibility, WeskusNuus plays a role in stimulating the local economy. It helps create a network of support for businesses to thrive in the region.
• Community Development Projects: WeskusNuus is known for covering and sometimes even partnering with local organizations on various community initiatives. These projects often focus on education, sport development and social upliftment. They are dedicated to drawing attention to important causes and facilitating community engagement.
• Environmental Awareness: Given the proximity of the West Coast to coastal ecosystems, WeskusNuus has also focused on environmental issues, supporting campaigns that raise awareness about the preservation of natural resources. This includes highlighting the importance of sustainable living and promoting eco-friendly practices among locals.

Tygerburger has been the voice of the Drakenstein community for decades. Established with the goal of keeping our community informed, we have grown into one of the most trusted local news sources in the region. Our mission is simple: to bring Drakenstein the latest news, impactful stories, and insightful opinions that matter most to our readers.

We are committed to supporting and uplifting the community through in-depth reporting, feature stories, and investigative pieces that shine a light on both the challenges and triumphs of Paarl.

• Tygerburger School Supply Drive: In 2022, we organized a school supply drive that provided essential learning materials to over 500 students in local schools.
• Community Clean-Up Initiative: Earlier this year, we led a series of community clean-up events, mobilizing over 200 volunteers to help keep Paarl’s public spaces clean and green.
• Local Business Spotlight Campaign: We launched a campaign to feature local businesses in 2023, helping over 50 small businesses gain visibility and attract more customers.

Local Features:

• Paarl Heroes: Stories of individuals making a difference in our community.
• Community Events: Coverage of festivals, gatherings, and celebrations happening in Paarl.
• Business Spotlight: Highlighting local businesses that contribute to Paarl’s vibrant economy.

• FCJ Excellence Awards: In 2020 and 2022 Tygerburger was honoured with the highest accolade for community newspapers at the Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) Excellence Awards for 2020, recognizing our dedication to quality journalism and community reporting, with the prized Cronwright Trophy. This was the eighth time in 15 years that Tygerburger received this honour. In the same period of time the newspaper also won the FCJ Award for best front page five times, as well as being runners up on numerous occasions. Through the years Tygerburger journalists have also reaped in various individual writing and photographic FCJ Awards.
• PMR.Africa Awards: Tygerburger won the Local Newspaper category for the Boland Region in 2012, 2014 and 2016, which is awarded to companies and institutions doing the most in their sectors to stimulate economic growth in the Boland Region.
• Mondi National Press Award 2003: Tygerburger received a merit award for outstanding design, further highlighting our commitment to delivering visually appealing and informative content.
• ATKV Woordveertjie: In 2015 Lise Beyers was awarded with an ATKV Woordveertjie Award for the best community newspaper in the country.
• Heritage Travel Magazine: At the Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival in Wellington, Heritage Travel Magazine honoured Tygerburger for the role they play in the Dakenstein communities, for news and the reading and writing culture they have cultivated over the years.

People’s Post has been the trusted voice of the Southern Suburbs community for decades. Established to keep our community informed, People’s Post has become one of the most trusted and reliable sources of local news in the South. Our mission is to bring the readers latest news, impactful stories, and insightful opinions.

People’s Post is committed to sharing the stories that define our diverse communities.

We are committed to supporting and uplifting the community through in-depth reporting, feature stories, and investigative pieces that shine a light on both the challenges and triumphs of our readers.

• People’s Post clean-up drive: In 2023, we joined the Two Oceans Aquarium team in the trash-bash campaign at Muizenberg Beach, where we picked up a lot of rubbish to contribute to a safe and clean coastal environment.
• Seals protection: Last year, thanks to the support of our partners, we helped to revamp the Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre. We cleaned the facility, which is home to rescued seals and pups.
• Cape Town Carnival: Now in its 15^th year, People’s Post has remained a committed print media partner of the Cape Town Carnival. The gathering brings thousands of people from across Cape Town, the rest of the country and beyond our borders into the streets of the Mother City for an annual splendour that showcases our diverse cultures and heritage. 

Our reporters have frequently made a name for themselves at the FCJ Excellence Awards. Many of our reporters have featured prominently in various categories. For two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021, Samantha walked away with the prestigious Journalism of the Year award.