Staff Writer
JOHANNESBURG: At midnight tonight, the South African Press Association (Sapa) will send out the last few sentences of its 76 years worth of news copy.
It’s an organisation that has helped out minimally staffed newsrooms, calmed numerous stressed news editors and saved those reporters who simply did not have enough hours in the day to make it to all of the important stories.
Independent Media announced in the middle of March that it had won Sapa’s assets, including its brand name, news and picture archives, after its bid was approved by the newswire’s board and members.
African News Agency – or Ana – published its first content in text, video, picture and audio on March 1, through an initial investment of $20 million (R233m).
News outlets around the world will be able to pay a subscription fee to Ana and receive access to view and use content produced all over Africa. Ana has secured feeds from international news agencies that will be available to its subscribers. These include Germany’s DPA and Xinhua, the largest news agency in the world with a bureau and content presence in 38 African countries.
Veteran journalist Raymond Faure wrote on the Facebook group page “I once worked for Sapa”: “Over the past 40 or so years I worked for Sapa three times and came to regard it as a home from home.”
Charmaine Pretorius posted: “I will always fondly remember my time there; the laughs, the friends, the sad days, the happy days, the crazy days…”