Naspers — Media24: employer liability, defamation procedure…

1Negligent employer liability, not every pleaded theory

analysisIn June 2005, South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed the appeals of Media24 and an employee in a workplace sexual-harassment case. The trial court had imposed joint civil damages of R776,814. The appellate court upheld the employer’s liability for negligently failing to protect the employee from harassment in the workplace. ¹

qualification: This was civil employer liability. The appeal court did not need to decide the separate question of direct vicarious liability for the harasser’s own delict. The claimant’s identity and sensitive personal history are unnecessary to explain the corporate outcome and are withheld here.
response: The defence relied in part on a group harassment policy in place since 1997 and raised jurisdictional and liability arguments. A policy’s existence did not answer the proven failure to prevent the harm.
outcome: The appeals were dismissed with costs. The historical employer, Nasionale Tydskrifte, was then a wholly owned Media24 subsidiary; that does not establish a current ownership roster.

2Procedural exceptions in the defamation action

analysisMark Paulsmeier brought a defamation action against Media24, Naspers and journalists, claiming R30 billion jointly and severally, with a further R16.1 million claimed from defendants other than Naspers. The allegations and the amounts were demands in his pleadings, not damages awarded against the companies. ²

qualification: The judgment dealt with exceptions to the pleaded case. It accepted a subsidiary relationship for purposes of the argument without deciding whether Media24 was Naspers’ direct or indirect subsidiary.
outcome: On 20 May 2022 the court largely upheld the defendants’ exceptions, set aside the particulars of claim and allowed one month to deliver amended particulars, with costs against the claimant. This favorable procedural outcome was not a final merits judgment resolving every possible amended claim.

3Restructuring, job cuts and the distribution-asset disposal

analysisMedia24’s 2024 restructuring proposed reducing print operations, migrating titles to digital, selling On the Dot and community newspapers to Novus, and cutting up to 400 jobs. The company paused specified closures and retrenchments pending competition approval. Caxton and Capital Newspapers opposed the plan, arguing that distribution changes and lost print titles would harm competition and access to news.

Sources (5)

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qualification: The 2020 pandemic-related reductions were a separate episode. A plan to end a print edition is not necessarily the disappearance of the title’s digital journalism. The applicants’ predictions of lost access and higher distribution costs are preserved as arguments, not converted into established outcomes.
response: Media24 attributed its decision to declining print readership and advertising, said migration would occur independently of the asset sale, and described retaining journalists in digital operations. The Competition Appeal Court found that the evidence did not establish the broader composite merger alleged by the applicants.
outcome: The court dismissed the urgent application with costs on 24 December 2024. Later reporting said Caxton and Capital Newspapers sought Constitutional Court relief; the retained report does not establish the final result of that later effort.

Sources (7)

Court record source · s-d251 identified by category only · Court record
Court record source · s-d259 identified by category only · Court record
Court record source · s-d179 identified by category only · Court record
Media source · s-d354 identified by category only · Media
Media source · s-d363 identified by category only · Media
Other source · s-d364 identified by category only · Other
Media source · s-d384 identified by category only · Media

Recorded connections

Naspers Limited to Media24 Proprietary LimitedGroup media business in South Africa; direct chain not impliedreported · Source recorded 2026-06-29; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Rachel Catharina Cornelia Jafta to Media24 Proprietary LimitedDirector; later board chairreported · Source gives 2013-04; exact start and later status depend on the cited record · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Novus Holdings LimitedHistorical controlling interest; 2017 divestment condition capped residual stake at 19%reported · Historical proposal and 2017 hearing; primary Tribunal records 66.5% then cap of 19% · historical
Naspers Limited to Media24 Proprietary LimitedGroup parent of Media24reported · Source recorded 2017-06-08; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Naspers Limited to Media24 Proprietary LimitedGroup company named in historical director-remuneration disclosurereported · Source recorded 2014-03-31; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Paarl Media Holdings Proprietary LimitedProposed acquisition of remaining 5% after put exercisereported · Put exercised November 2013; completion still subject to regulatory approval in 2014 disclosure · historical
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Paarl Coldset Proprietary LimitedProposed acquisition of remaining 12.6% after put exercisereported · Put exercised November 2013; completion still subject to regulatory approval in 2014 disclosure · historical
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Retief family trustProspective purchaser under exercised put optionreported · Put exercised November 2013; completion still subject to regulatory approval in 2014 disclosure · historical
Naspers Limited to Media24 Proprietary LimitedGroup company in director-remuneration disclosurereported · Source recorded 2024-03-31; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Stephan Johannes Zymon (Steve) Pacak to Media24 Proprietary LimitedDirector or board memberreported · Historical mandate; group CFO ended 30 June 2014; later board roles ended no later than his death on 20 April 2026 · historical
Media24 Holdings Proprietary Limited to Media24 Proprietary LimitedParent of Media24 operating companyreported · Source recorded 2024-12-24; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Rachel Catharina Cornelia Jafta to Media24 Proprietary LimitedBoard chairreported · Source gives 2013; exact start and later status depend on the cited record · current or historical not established
Debra Meyer to Media24 Proprietary LimitedDirector or board memberreported · Source recorded 2026-09; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Theunissen (Ton) Vosloo to Media24 Proprietary LimitedHistorical chair in dated biographyreported · Source recorded 2004; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · historical
Naspers Limited to Media24 Proprietary LimitedGroup parent; direct or indirect chain not decided by this sourcereported · Source recorded 2007-10-08; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Naspers Limited to Media24 Proprietary LimitedCo-defendant in Paulsmeier’s defamation claimreported · Source recorded 2022-05-20; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Naspers Limited to Media24 Proprietary LimitedGroup parent; direct or indirect chain not decided by this sourcereported · Source recorded 2022-05-20; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Naspers Limited to Media24 Proprietary LimitedGroup media businessreported · Source recorded 2024-08-06; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Naspers Limited to Media24 Proprietary LimitedGroup media businessreported · Source recorded 2024-06-24; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Sholto Investments BVIParty ordered to disclose specified vehicle’s external media interestsreported · Source recorded 2014-08-19; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to De Goedgedacht TrustParty ordered to disclose specified vehicle’s external media interestsreported · Source recorded 2014-08-19; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Caxton & CTP Publishers and Printers LimitedRespondent to Caxton intervention applicationreported · Source recorded 2014-08-19; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Paarl Media Holdings Proprietary LimitedCo-party in proposed printing mergerreported · Source recorded 2014-08-19; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Paarl Coldset Proprietary LimitedCo-party in proposed printing mergerreported · Source recorded 2014-08-19; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Paarl Media Holdings Proprietary LimitedProposed acquisition of remaining 5%; 2014 transaction abandonedreported · Proposed 2014 transaction, subsequently abandoned · historical
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Paarl Coldset Proprietary LimitedProposed acquisition of remaining 12.63%; 2014 transaction abandonedreported · Proposed 2014 transaction, subsequently abandoned · historical
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Lambert RetiefProspective purchaser from Retief family interestsreported · Proposed 2014 transaction, subsequently abandoned · historical
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Caxton & CTP Publishers and Printers LimitedRespondent to Caxton intervention applicationreported · Source recorded 2014-08-18; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Novus Holdings LimitedCo-party in proposed printing mergerreported · Source recorded 2014-08-18; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Competition CommissionCo-respondent with Commission in intervention proceedingreported · Source recorded 2014-08-18; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Caxton & CTP Publishers and Printers LimitedRespondent to Caxton’s attempted interventionreported · Source recorded 2017-06-06; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Novus Holdings LimitedProposed acquisition/control transaction in 2017 proceedingsreported · Source recorded 2017-06-06; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Naspers Limited to Media24 Proprietary LimitedGroup parent of Media24reported · Source recorded 2017-06-06; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Novus Holdings LimitedHistorical control before mandated divestment to no more than 19%reported · Source recorded 2017-06-06; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · historical
Naspers Limited to Media24 Proprietary LimitedGroup business in historical website snapshotreported · Source recorded 2022-12-31; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Caxton & CTP Publishers and Printers LimitedRespondent to announced Constitutional Court challengereported · Source recorded 2025-01-20; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Capital Newspapers (Pty) LtdRespondent to announced Constitutional Court challengereported · Source recorded 2025-01-20; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to On the DotHistorical owner of distribution business proposed for disposalreported · Source recorded 2025-01-20; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · historical
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Novus Holdings LimitedSeller of distribution and newspaper assets to Novusreported · Source recorded 2025-01-20; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Competition CommissionMerger applicant receiving October 2024 conditional approvalreported · Source recorded 2025-01-20; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to On the DotHistorical owner of distribution business proposed for disposalreported · Source recorded 2024-07-12; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · historical
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Novus Holdings LimitedSeller of distribution and newspaper assets to Novusreported · Source recorded 2024-07-12; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Ishmet Davidson to Media24 Proprietary LimitedMedia24 chief executivereported · Source recorded 2024-07-12; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to SolidarityEmployer dealing with workers’ union during restructuringreported · Source recorded 2024-07-12; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Caxton & CTP Publishers and Printers LimitedRecipient of alternative proposal from rival publisherreported · Source recorded 2024-07-12; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Ishmet Davidson to Media24 Proprietary LimitedMedia24 chief executivereported · Source recorded 2020-07-07; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to South African National Editors’ ForumMedia company criticised by editors’ forum over job cutsreported · Source recorded 2020-07-07; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Paarl Media Holdings Proprietary LimitedHistorical joint controller from 2000reported · Source gives 2000; exact start and later status depend on the cited record · historical
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Paarl Coldset Proprietary LimitedHistorical joint controller from 2000reported · Source gives 2000; exact start and later status depend on the cited record · historical
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Lambert RetiefTransaction counterparty to Retief family interestsreported · Source recorded 2000; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Novus Holdings LimitedHistorical 66.5% interest subject to reduction to no more than 19%reported · Source recorded 2017-01; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · historical
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Novus Holdings LimitedResidual right to nominate one non-operational director under conditionsreported · Source recorded 2017-08-22; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to Novus Holdings LimitedSeller of distribution and newspaper assets to Novusreported · Source recorded 2024-07-15; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · current or historical not established
Media24 Proprietary Limited to On the DotHistorical owner of distribution business proposed for disposalreported · Source recorded 2024-07-15; underlying appointment or transaction date and later status are not inferred from retrieval · historical