The newspaper was established in 1982 as the Golden City Press by James R. A. Bailey and the South African Associated Newspapers (SAAN) group.
The following year, "Golden" was dropped from the newspaper's name.
SAAN later withdrew from its partnership with Bailey and the newspaper ran into financial difficulties.

Nasionale Pers took over the publication of the newspaper as well as its sister publications, Drum and True Love & Family, on 1 April 1984.

The newspaper is currently owned by South Africa's leading company, Media24, which is the media arm of Naspers.

The editor in chief of the City Press news brand is Mondli Makhanya.
He has been at the helm of the news brand since 1 August 2016.
Prior to Makhanya, the news brand was edited by Ferial Haffajee, who joined City Press on 1 July 2009.

It counts among its ranks of former editors Khathu Mamaila, Mathatha Tsedu and Len Kalane, who wrote a book about his experiences as editor of City Press, entitled The Chapter We Wrote: The City Press Story.
The newspaper was established in 1982 as the Golden City Press by James R. A. Bailey and the South African Associated Newspapers (SAAN) group. The following year, "Golden" was dropped from the newspaper's name. SAAN later withdrew from its partnership with Bailey and the newspaper ran into financial difficulties.
Nasionale Pers took over the publication of the newspaper as well as its sister publications, Drum and True Love & Family, on 1 April 1984.
The newspaper is currently owned by South Africa's leading company, Media24, which is the media arm of Naspers.
The editor in chief of the City Press news brand is Mondli Makhanya. He has been at the helm of the news brand since 1 August 2016. Prior to Makhanya, the news brand was edited by Ferial Haffajee, who joined City Press on 1 July 2009.
It counts among its ranks of former editors Khathu Mamaila, Mathatha Tsedu and Len Kalane, who wrote a book about his experiences as editor of City Press, entitled The Chapter We Wrote: The City Press Story.
City Press (South Africa)