15 Most Popular News Websites In South Africa – Ranked By Influence
Posted on April 1, 2025
Ranked2025
Ranked By Squirrelpr
South Africa News Websites
Top News Websites In South Africa
News24
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of South Africans have turned to online resources as their primary source of information, especially news. This strong demand for timely and reliable news is reflected in the record readership of South Africa’s online news publications.
In this post, we highlight the 15 most popular news websites in South Africa, based on RANKED2025 by SquirrelPR:
1. News24: Founded in October 1998 by multinational media giant Naspers, News24 has established itself as South Africa's leading source for reliable news, opinion, business, sport, and lifestyle content.In August 2021, News24 launched a digital subscription service offering premium investigative journalism and analysis for R75 per month. By February 2024, it reached 100,000 subscribers, making it the largest subscription-led news website in Africa. It also boasts a robust social media presence, with over 13 million combined followers on X and Facebook.
The platform has earned recognition from the Global Media Awards, Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards, and the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, among others. According to RANKED, News24 recorded nearly 193 million web visits in 2024.
2. Cape Times/IOL News: Cape Times is a trusted news website that reports local, national, and international stories - from politics and crime to health, sports, education, travel, and more. In addition to its rapid reporting, its online success builds on the strong reputation of its print edition. With over 120 million visits, Cape Times ranks as the second most popular news website in South Africa.3. SNL24/Daily Sun: Founded in 2010, SNL24’s Daily Sun is another popular online news source in South Africa. It focuses on local news and celebrity content. This emphasis on homegrown content makes it highly relatable to South African audiences. Under editor Amos Mananyetso, Daily Sun has amassed over 2 million followers on social media. According to RANKED, the platform recorded over 100 million web visits in 2024.
4. Daily Maverick: When you think investigative journalism, you think Daily Maverick. This independent news site offers a mix of local and global news, analysis, and opinions. True to its tagline 'defend truth,' Daily Maverick maintains straightforward, uncompromising reporting. It's no wonder it’s South Africa’s fourth most visited news website.
5. TimesLIVE: TimesLIVE takes the fifth spot on this list, with a remarkable traffic volume of over 90 million. Launched in September 2009, this news site provides 'breaking news, analysis, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle updates seven days a week.' It is led by editor-in-chief Sthembiso Msomi.
6. The Citizen: Under the leadership of editors Trevor Stevens and Gareth Cotterell, The Citizen exemplifies the best of modern media. With a vision to provide unbiased news, the platform delivers not only breaking news but also content tailored to its readers' interests. In 2024 alone, The Citizen attracted nearly 80 million web visits.
7. The South African: Published by Blue Sky Publications (Pty) Ltd since 2005, The South African has distinguished itself as an “independent, no agenda and no bias online news disruptor that goes beyond the news and behind the headlines.” It focuses on stories that impact South Africans, wherever they are in the world. The South African has a combined social media following of over 900,000, and according to RANKED, it recorded nearly 80 million visits in 2024.
Also, read 13 Most Popular News Websites In Africa (Ranked By Traffic)
8. eNews Channel Africa (eNCA): In 2013, enca.com was launched as a multimedia news website to provide users with an immersive online experience. It covers live reports, breaking news, sports, weather, entertainment, and business updates from South Africa and across Africa.
9. Eye Witness News: With nearly 40 million visits, Eye Witness News earns its spot on this list. The site empowers its audience by providing up-to-date news on a wide range of topics at both local and international levels.
10. Rapport/Netwerk24: Launched in 2014, Netwerk24 delivers the latest news and analysis in Afrikaans, offering translation options for international readers. It also includes an audio-reading feature for convenient, on-the-go listening. Under Editor-in-Chief Henriette Loubser, Netwerk24 recorded millions of visits in 2024 alone.
11. The Sowetan: SowetanLIVE is the digital replica of ‘The Sowetan’, a daily newspaper that began in 1981 as a platform for reporting on the liberation struggle. Its objective is simple: “to serve a proudly South African readership who have earned the right to be in the know and on the move.” The website combines content from the print edition with exclusive online updates throughout the day, all week long.
12. Sunday World: Sunday World is a tabloid-style newspaper that caters to the interests of young, ambitious black consumers. Often regarded as a go-to site for 'juicy gist,' the platform has enjoyed significant online success with millions of online readers.
13. Mail & Guardian: The Mail & Guardian launched in 1994 as Africa's first online newspaper in partnership with Media24 (a subsidiary of Naspers). The news site is guided by the core values of truth, freedom, justice, and equality. It has earned prestigious accolades such as the CNN African Journalism Award, the Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Award, the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award, and the Bookmark Awards, among others. With a growing digital readership and a very strong social media presence, the Mail & Guardian remains a beacon of credible journalism in Africa.
14. The Witness: Priding itself on being "your compass in the community," The Witness is a digital-first national news website primarily serving readers in Pietermaritzburg, Durban, and the inland regions of KwaZulu-Natal. According to RANKED, The Witness continues to grow in influence.
15. Daily Voice: Renowned for its extensive coverage and insightful analysis, Daily Voice earns a place on this list. Its primary mission is to advocate for marginalized voices and issues in society. Led by acting editor Dudley Carstens, the website enjoyed a traffic volume of over 10 million, per SquirrelPR’s ranking.