South African Press Association Operations To Cease On 31 March

In a shock to the media world the South Africa Press Association will cease to operate after 77 years.

In a statement released today the agency was now winding and would cease to operate on 31 March 2015. This is after the disposal of its assets. As a special category non-profit company it cannot be sold off.

Gallo Images, KMM Review Publishers and Sekunjalo Investments Holdings have presented their proposals for for the establishment of a commercially based content generating and syndication service business.

The news agency’s Chair, Minette Ferreira said in a press statement:

The Board meeting also underlined its commitment to ensuring the interests of all Sapa employees were correctly and meticulously attended to, as well as seeking where possible to maximise opportunities for these staffers, either with whatever new company was established, or if possible, elsewhere within the media industry. In addition, current subscribers would in due course be briefed on the plans and would be approached directly by the operators of the new syndication business.

Sad to see it go to be honest. They are a great repository but we suppose with the way the world is going their registration could not allow them to effectively maximise on new demands and configurations in society.