SOUTH AFRICA

Via Afrika Limited is part of the Multi National Electronic and Print Media Group called Naspers established in 1915. Via Afrika is also a subsidiary of Media24 Limited, a leading publishing group in Africa, whose operations include newspapers, magazines, internet businesses, printing plants and distribution companies. Via Afrika is the largest South African group of book publishers.

Via Afrika (previously called Nasionale Boekhandel) was established in 1950 as an independent business with its main business to publish books. Initially the new business focused on school textbooks, and later acquired well-known Afrikaans publishers such as Tafelberg, Human & Rousseau and JL van Schaik. In 1992 the company gained an interest in an English publishing company with the takeover of Jonathan Ball Publishers and later the HarperCollins SA agency business. More recently, Via Afrika invested in publishing religious books through Lux Verbi BM.

Via Afrika’s main source of income today is derived from the educational market through the school textbook publisher, Nasou Via Afrika; the electronic school textbook publisher, Future Entrepreneurs; adult basic education publisher, Stimela; and from educational products for children aged 3 to 12 years, through Smile/IDEM.