One of South Africa’s most respected business publications, Financial Mail, will publish its final edition on 30 October 2025, drawing a close to a 65-year legacy of financial journalism.
Parent company Arena Holdings announced that the weekly magazine will be merged into Business Day as part of a broader newsroom integration strategy.
While no job losses are expected, the closure marks a significant shift in South Africa’s print media landscape.
‘Growing challenges’
Arena Holdings CEO Pule Molebeledi described the move as a strategic response to the growing challenges facing traditional media, including declining print advertising revenues, rising production costs, and changing reader habits.
“Financial Mail has delivered powerful analysis and high-quality reporting for decades, but adapting to a digital-first environment is now essential,” Molebeledi said.
The magazine, launched in 1960, was instrumental in covering South Africa’s political economy, chronicling everything from apartheid-era sanctions to modern-day corporate scandals.
Its sharp editorial voice and in-depth reporting made it a mainstay for business leaders and policymakers alike.
The decision to fold Financial Mail into Business Day follows a global trend, as many weekly print titles struggle to compete with the speed and scale of digital news platforms.
While international brands like The Economist continue to thrive, national business magazines face mounting pressure to evolve or close.
Shrinking footprint
Industry experts say the move reflects the shrinking footprint of South African print journalism, with several major titles already shut down or restructured in recent years.
As Financial Mail prepares for its final issue, its editorial legacy will live on through Business Day, where its journalists are expected to contribute expanded features, analysis, and commentary across print and digital platforms.
The closure once again underscores the urgent need for media houses to rethink sustainability in a rapidly changing industry, as traditional advertising models continue to decline.
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