Financial Mail, one of South Africa’s best-known weekly financial magazines, will publish its final edition on 30 October, ending a 65-year run. Parent company Arena Holdings said the brand’s editorial expertise will be folded into daily sister title Business Day.
Arena CEO Pule Molebeledi called the move “an important new chapter” and stressed there would be no job losses, with staff moving into roles at Business Day. He praised Financial Mail’s record of “sharp analysis” and “thought-provoking financial coverage,” saying readers would benefit from deeper daily insights as the two titles’ strengths are combined.
The closure reflects the wider financial pressures facing print media in South Africa. Declines in print advertising, rising production costs and a shift toward real-time digital updates have eroded the viability of weekly formats. While digital audiences have grown, revenues from online ads and subscriptions have not replaced the losses from print.
Analysts said the decision is pragmatic, consolidating resources in a shrinking market. Business Day already has a strong position in economic reporting, and absorbing Financial Mail’s long-form analysis could enhance its daily output.
The loss of a standalone Financial Mail will be keenly felt by loyal readers. The magazine was a key voice during South Africa’s turbulent political and corporate history, from the apartheid sanctions era to the state capture scandals. Its closure highlights both the contraction of print media and the urgent need for new revenue strategies in South Africa’s publishing industry.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is recent, with no evidence of prior publication. The announcement of Financial Mail’s closure on 30 October 2025 is a new development, indicating high freshness. ✅
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
No direct quotes are present in the provided text, suggesting originality. The absence of quotes supports the assessment of original content. ✅
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from Moneyweb, a reputable South African financial news outlet. While Moneyweb is considered reliable, cross-referencing with other reputable sources would further confirm the information. ⚠️
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The closure of Financial Mail aligns with broader challenges in the print media industry, such as declining advertising revenue and the shift to digital platforms. The integration of Financial Mail’s editorial expertise into Business Day is a plausible strategic response. However, further confirmation from additional reputable sources would strengthen the assessment. ⚠️
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative presents recent and original information regarding Financial Mail’s closure, sourced from a reputable outlet. While the plausibility of the claims is high, additional confirmation from other reputable sources would further solidify the assessment. ✅