Free copies of the New Age newspaper were distributed at the venue of the ANC’s national general council (NGC) in Durban on Thursday.
The front-page story was headlined “Zuma tightens his grip” and was accompanied by a picture of the ANC president speaking at the meeting. Page three was also filled with NGC stories.
Free copies were available at all the exhibition centre’s gates. People distributing it said it was a Heritage Day special edition.
It had hard news stories, a business section, and lifestyle and sports sections. The new daily, owned by TNA Media, was initially scheduled to launch in mid-September, but this has been postponed to October 20.
People who read it described as easy to read.
“I read it. It is very appealing. The style and layout is brilliant,” said Nsiki Ngalo, a media specialist.
He liked the paper because it carried stories that he said were of interest to South Africa.
“I am happy that there is no story about [celebrity socialite] Khanyi Mbau in this paper. I hate newspapers which carry stories that promote other people’s interests,” he said.
He was not interested in reading people’s personal lives, and did not like to see half-naked women in newspapers.
A television reporter said the newspaper looked like UK papers.
“It looks like British newspapers. It looks professional and it looks different from other local papers.”
The newspaper would sell for R3,50. — Sapa