Isolezwe ‘sisters' top of the pops

Zulu language titles Isolezwe and its Sunday sister Isolezwe ngeSontho arechart toppers in a market falling or stagnant circulation figures.

The latest Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) figures show that while newspaper sales fell by an average of 2,3% in the first quarter of this year, the Independent Newspapers-owned Isolezwe increased its circulation  by 34% and now stands proudly at the cusp of even bigger things, with a daily average of 104 481.

Not to be outdone, Isolezwe ngeSontho posted yet another sales hike, scoring an average sale of 71 219 a week - up by a highly impressive 33,9% over the same period last year.

Launched in March 2008, ngeSonto Isolezwe focuses on giving Zulu-speaking readers the weekend read they want. With Editor Thulani Mbatha at the helm directing a dedicated team of journalists, the title takes the essence of its daily sister's brand  - credibility, a trendy modern approach, relevance and topicality - to create a must-have Sunday product.

Independent Newspapers joint MD in KwaZulu-Natal Brian Porter is upbeat about the Isolezwe glory story, in which new chapters of success are written almost every quarter.

"There are no half measures as far as the Isolezwe product is concerned... we're reaching for the stars but keeping our feet firmly on the ground. A number of factors contribute to the success of the two Isolezwes but playing a major role is the fact that editorial content satisfies the market's needs with football and sport in general being vital ingredients," says Porter, who was in the managerial hot seat at ngeSonto's birth.