“With many titles down this quarter we are grateful for our successes.” says Isolezwe editor, Sazi Hadebe. “At 90 092, Isolezwe ngeSonto has reached a new high - up 5.3% quarter-on-quarter and a staggering 11.8% year-on-year. This is brilliant.”

Saturday sister, Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo, continues its upward trend with a sale of 76 128. In the market for nearly a year, this weekend winner registered a quarterly increase of 9.2%.

“Growth across all three titles suggests we are attracting new buyers and regulars are buying more often. Our weekend titles have a different content emphasis and are being bought in addition to the daily, even in tight times.

“The daily sale is above 100 000 for the seventh consecutive quarter, “says Hadebe. “Slightly off its record 117 266 in the first quarter, the 113 786 average is a 5.2% year-on-year increase.

“It’s not easy,” says Hadebe. “We work hard at giving readers the full story and chasing those that matter every day of the week.
“Be it the taxi strikes, cheating teachers, lobola paid with stolen cows, The Spear controversy, the shenanigans of popular DJs and politicians, readers know we’ll have it all,” he says.

Isolezwe’s sports coverage is highly sought after. “The PSL was a real cliffhanger last season and the coaching changes gave fans some added suspense,” says Hadebe.

With two issues out, both reader and advertiser reaction to SiyaPhola, the free magazine published with Isolezwe in the last week of each month, has also been very positive.

Isolezwe deputy editor and previously weekend editor, Slindile Khanyile, is particularly delighted with the weekend titles’ success. “Our human interest stories can be heart-wrenching. It’s so gratifying to experience the positive influence our newspaper has when readers come forward to alleviate others suffering,” says Khanyile.

This quarter also saw a vernacular title offering a pull-out TV guide for the first time when Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo introduced Isomag.

Sunday’s edition, Isolezwe ngeSonto, is more personality-driven and had the added benefit of exciting Saturday football results during the quarter. A property section, Ezezindlu, has introduced an extra dimension to the Sunday edition.