It publishes several major South African newspapers, including the Sunday Times, Business Day, Financial Mail, Herald, Sowetan and Daily Dispatch.

[7] In October 2007, Johncom announced a proposal to change its name to Avusa in order to distinguish itself from its former parent company.

[8] Shortly afterwards, in November 2007, a company called Koni Media Holdings launched a R7-billion bid to take over 100 per cent of Avusa, possibly with funding from the state-owned asset manager, the Public Investment Corporation.

[9] Because Koni Media's shareholders also included three high-level government officials – Titus Mafolo, Ronnie Mamoepa and Billy Modise – there was wide speculation that President Thabo Mbeki's government was involved in the takeover bid, a claim strongly denied by Koni Media and by Mbeki.

[14] In 2013, the Times Media Group took full ownership of BDFM (the publisher of the Business Day and Financial Mail), buying Pearson's 50 per cent stake in the venture.