[3] VOLKSBLAD, the oldest Afrikaans daily newspaper in South Africa, made its first appearance on 18 November 1904 in Potchefstroom in the form of Het Westen, a Dutch weekly with four pages with Hendrik de Graaf as the founder owner.

The paper devoted itself to the interests and development of the Afrikaner people of the former independent Orange Free State and Transvaal Republics in the aftermath of the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902).

By 1948 it was a strong, profitable newspaper with a wide distribution area and influence in the Free State, parts of the former Cape Province and Transvaal.

Die Volksblad suffered circulation losses to Beeld in the Northern Free State and Western Transvaal.

Other landmark dates are 24 February 1983 when Die Volksblad appeared for the first time in full colour, and on 4 March 1991 it became a morning newspaper.

Highlights for the newspaper in the early nineties was winning the prestigious national McCall Trophy for typographical excellence two years in a row, 1993 and 1994.

The editors through the years were the people that led the newspapers with distinction: Hendrik de Graaf (stigter-eienaar, 1904 – 1917); Paul G. Das (1904 – 1905); Adam Boshoff (1905 – 1907); B.G.

This radical step was directly caused by the economic effect of Coronavirus on business activity and reduced spending on advertisements in the printed media.

Dapper efforts to keep Volksblad afloat during the two years preceding its downfall finally gave way as a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other sponsors include Astra XL Travels, Kovsie- Alumni Trust, Absa, SA Truck Bodies, Lindsay Saker Volkswagen, KPMG and Vodacom.

[9] Dink-of-sink is another project that Volksblad hosts annually in partnership with AfriForum and Hoër Meisieskool Oranje in Bloemfontein.

Volksblad also presents the Volksblad-Roosknoppie competition annually in partnership with the Loch Logan Waterfront in Bloemfontein to coincide with the Rose Festival.

Hennie van Coller, one of the columnists of Goeiemôre, is professor and head of the Department of Afrikaans, Dutch, German and French at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein.

He is also amongst others editor of Perspektief en Profiel about the history of Afrikaans literature, a prizewinning literary scientist, translator and poet.

Bloemnews is the oldest bilingual community newspaper in Bloemfontein and as far as distribution is concerned, is a weekly community newspaper that is distributed free of charge every Friday to households in Bloemfontein and 20 surrounding towns in the Free State and Northern Cape.

Express Northern Cape is a free English community newspaper which is distributed on Wednesdays in Kimberley, Kuruman, Mothibistad, Kathu, Warrenton, Barkly Wes, Hartswater, Jan Kempdorp, De Aar, Petrusville, Douglas, Prieska, Hopetown, Van der Kloof and Postmasburg.

Kroonnuus is a free Afrikaans and English community newspaper which is distributed weekly on Tuesdays in Kroonstad, Heilbron, Steynsrus, Koppies, Viljoenskroon, Edenville and Bothaville.

Vista is a free Afrikaans and English community newspaper which is distributed on Thursdays in Welkom, Virginia, Odendaalsrus, Riebeeckstad, Allanridge, Bronville, Hennenman, Theunissen, Bothaville, Hoopstad, Bultfontein, Ventersburg, Winburg, Wesselsbron, Thabong, Kutlwanong, Meloding and Phomolong every week.

Vista has serviced the entire Goldfields community in Afrikaans and English for the last 42 years and consists of a hard and soft news approach.

Distribution takes place in the following areas: Bethlehem, Lindley, Warden, Vrede, Clarens, Kestell, Harrismith, Reitz, Frankfort, Tweeling, Petrus Steyn, Arlington, Paul Roux, Rosendal, Ficksburg, Slabberts, Fouriesburg, Ladybrand, Excelsior, Tweespruit, Senekal, Excelsior, Slabberts, Tweespruit en Phuthaditjhaba.