Misinformation and fake news being shared across social media platforms have become global issues. This is being made worse by generative AI – it’s now easy to fake anything, even videos of a person speaking. So, before you hit forward, you should verify the “information” you’re sharing because it may not be true.  

The best way to avoid mistakes is to subscribe to a credible news source. We’ve compiled a list of long-standing and trusted South African media outlets if you want to pay for your news and share accurate information. 

News24 

One of the most visited websites in South Africa is News24, and for good reason. It offers a live feed of what is happening as it happens, breaking news, and a bit of everything else. If you want a single source to get your news, sport, entertainment, tech, life, and opinions, this is your best option. News 24 also has an app for Android and iOS. 

Subscription options:  

• R75 a month 

• R370 for six months 

• R670 a year.  

Sunday Times 

The iconic Sunday Times is a paper you likely grew up with – and with a digital subscription, you can read everything that comes out in print and on the paper’s digital site, TimesLive. You can expect news, opinions, analysis, sport, business, books, lifestyle, and puzzles.  

Subscription options: 

• R30 a day for digital only 

• R80 a month for digital only 

• R90 a month for both print and digital access.  

Daily Maverick 

The Daily Maverick began as an online publication and then started selling a weekly newspaper with a strong focus on investigations, news and analysis and features. It also has business, citizen, and sport sections, among others. You can access this content online or via Android and iPhone apps. The Daily Maverick is unique in that it lets the reader choose how much they want to pay.  

Subscription options: 

• R75 a month 

• R900 a year. 

Mail & Guardian 

The Mail & Guardian offers a website with content from its weekly newspaper and digital stories. Sections include news, thought leader, environment, Africa, and Friday. There’s a limit on how many free articles you can access a month. 

Subscription options: 

• Digital-only access R99 a month, or R980 a year.  

• Print and digital access R165 a month or R1 499 a year. 

Moneyweb 

If you’re interested in business, finance, and investment news, Moneyweb is your destination of choice. It’s also a supplement in the Citizen newspaper and offers an app for Android and iOS. It features “Insider Gold” premium subscription with benefits like full access to articles, fewer ads, alerts, the ability to post comments and replies and to receive reports via PDF.  

Subscription options:  

• R70 a month  

• R700 a year.  

Cellphone deals online

To enjoy these trustworthy news sources, you are going to need a device to access their content on. Visit the Vodacom Shop for the latest deals on smartphones, tablets and laptops.