Die Burger

''Die Burger'' (English: The Citizen) is a daily Afrikaans-language newspaper, published by Naspers. By 2008, it had a circulation of 91,665 in the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa. Along with '' Beeld'' and '' Volksblad'', it is one of three broadsheet dailies in the Media24 stable.

Traditionally, the paper has held views to the right of the political spectrum, and it used to be the mouthpiece of the South African National Party - a status which only fell away in 1990. Numerous editors of the paper became Ministers in the National Party government. Despite being compelled to do so, Die Burger has, as of 2025, still not issued a public apology for its significant role in the apartheid system in South Africa.

History

On 18 December 1914, sixteen prominent Afrikaners gathered in Stellenbosch to discuss the establishment of a national newspaper.

With considerable financial support from local philanthropists Jannie and Christiaan Marais, purchased a quarter of 20,000 £1 shares in the new holding company, the project soon got off the ground, with the founding of ''De Nasionale Pers'' ("the National Press") and the selection of Dr. D. F. Malan as editor of its daily paper, ''De Burger'' (Dutch for "The Citizen").

The first issue was published on 26 July 1915. It consisted of 10 pages and featured numerous graphic advertisements on the front page, seven columns, and domestic, international, cultural, and economic sections, along with a column for opinion pieces. Initially, the editorial team comprised 16 members, but this number dropped to nine within a year.

The newspaper quickly emerged as a competitor to the English-language ''Cape Times''. All editors were proponents of the Afrikaans language and fluent in its use, which led to the appearance of the first Afrikaans-language articles as early as 1916.

Since 21 December 2024, Die Burger now serves as the only Afrikaans daily newspaper in South Africa, after the closure of titles such as Beeld (in Johannesburg and northern regions) and Volksblad (Free State + Northern Cape) as well as the weekly Rapport.

Language

''Die Burger'' was originally published in Dutch. In 1916, the first Afrikaans-language articles were published. In 1921, the newspaper's Dutch title (''De Burger'') was translated into Afrikaans (''Die Burger'').

Weekly supplements

*Sake24 (Mon-Fri)
*Jip (Mon)
*Motors (Thur)
*Gesond! (every second Fri)
*Landbou (every second Fri)
*Versnit (Sat)
*BY (Sat)
*Eiendomme (Sat)
*Veilings (Sat)
*Snuffelgids (daily, Mon-Sat)

Political affiliation

''Die Burger'' was a newspaper that supported the nationalist cause and apartheid, and used to be the mouthpiece of the National Party. This only began to change after 1985, when then editor Piet Cillié, a staunch supporter of the government under B. J. Vorster and P. W. Botha, retired.

In 1990, the National Party was officially informed by editor Ebbe Dommisse that it no longer served as a political mouthpiece. This disaffiliation was continued in 1999 with the appointment of a more progressive editor, Arrie Rossouw. In 2006, Henry Jeffreys became the first Cape Coloured editor of the paper.

List of editors

* D. F. Malan (1915-24)
* Albertus Geyer (1924-45)
* Phil Weber (1945-54)
* Piet Cillié (1954-77)
* Wiets Beukes (1977-90)
* Ebbe Dommisse (1990-2000)
* Arrie Rossouw (2000-06)
* Henry Jeffreys (2006-10)
* Bun Booyens (2010-2016)
* Willem Jordaan (2016-)

Distribution areas

Distribution figures

Readership figures

See also

* List of newspapers in South Africa
* Hans Beukes
* Gideon Joubert

Sources

Nieman Reports at Harvard University
* ''Die Burger'' 2000/8/05
* ''Die Burger'' 2005/7/26

References

External links

''Die Burger'' Website




SAARF Website

Afrikaner culture in Cape Town
Daily newspapers published in South Africa
Afrikaans-language newspapers
Mass media in Cape Town
1914 establishments in South Africa
Newspapers established in 1914

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