Perdeby: University of Pretoria
“On behalf of everyone at PDBY, congratulations to Die Matie on celebrating 85 years of exceptional student journalism. It was such a privilege to visit your newsroom earlier this year and experience the dedication of your team firsthand. Thank you for reminding us that, despite the distance, we are part of the same student-journalism community. Here’s to your remarkable legacy and many more years of excellence!” – Lebo Manana, News Editor PDBY.
Varsity: University of Cape Town
“It is quite remarkable when a student publication is able to outlast significant political and
governance changes. The archive of independent student publications must be preserved,
and a constant eye kept on the pulse of their most prominent peoples, so that Die Matie may
be an active voice of the students ad infinitum.” – Nonkululeko Mncube, Editor-in-Chief of Varsity Newspaper.
Activate Media: Rhodes University
“On behalf of Activate Media, we wish Die Matie a happy 85th anniversary. May this milestone be a celebration of your proud legacy, unwavering commitment to quality journalism, and the countless stories that have shaped your community. Wishing you continued success, growth, and many more years of impactful storytelling. Happy 85th anniversary! Much love from your friends at Rhodes University.” – Erin Arends, Editor-in-Chief of Activate Media.
Wapad: North-West University, Potchefstroom
“I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Die Matie, on behalf of Wapad, on achieving an incredible 85 year milestone of student journalism. Maintaining a student publication for nearly a century is not a small feat and shows the monumental achievement that speaks to your dedication, integrity and vital voice on campus. We highly value the spirit of mutual respect and solidarity between our newspapers and we are excited to see Die Matie continue to inspire, inform, and break new ground for many years to come. Cheers to 85 years of excellence!” – Mhlengi Khumalo, Editor-in-Chief of Wapad.
National student media conference 2026
In April this year, Die Matie hosted a national student media conference with Editorial members from PDBY, Varsity News, Activate Media, Wapad and SMF News.
Each publication had the opportunity to present its current workflow and processes, followed by constructive comparisons and feedback. Die Matie gained expert insight into editorial independence, sports journalism, and collaboration, and discussed our various perspectives on the state of student journalism in South Africa.
A key conclusion from the three days of engagement was that student media is alive and well, and its value is undeniable
