New Xhosa paper launched

INDEPENDENT Media this week launched I’solezwe lesiXhosa, the company’s first vernacular publication in the Eastern Cape.

Dr Iqbal Survé, executive chairman of Independent Media, said the new paper is in line with the vision and strategy of the company.

“The role of the media to advance the transformation and development agenda of our country is critical. Creating a platform for South Africans to communicate in their mother-tongue is part of our contribution to this transformation,” Survé said.

Unathi Kondile is the editor of I’solezwe lesiXhosa.

Before joining Independent Media, Kondile started his own newspaper Isigidimi SamaXhosa, which was the outcome of research he did towards his PhD proposal on the transformation of the media in South Africa.

This initiative won him the 2014 British Council Young Creative Entrepreneur Culture Award.

Independent believes there is an untapped market of more than 3.5 million adult Xhosa- speaking people in the Eastern Cape alone.

“This in itself points to a profound failure of South Africa’s media to transform itself. The introduction of I’solezwe lesiXhosa will hopefully signal a positive change in South Africa’s media landscape,” said Kondile.

I’solezwe lesiXhosa will be based on the same editorial formula as the successful trio of Isolezwe publications (daily, Saturday and Sunday) in KwaZulu-Natal, which have a collective readership of more than 2.3 million weekly and will be supported by the same publishing team.

The editorial team will be based in East London.

I’solezwe lesiXhosa will be published daily from Monday to Friday. – Staff Reporter