Johannesburg — The Weekender, Business Day's sister newspaper, will publish its last edition tomorrow.

Media companies have been hard hit by the recession and BDFM, which is 50% owned by media and entertainment group Avusa , is no exception.

Mzi Malunga, the managing director of BDFM, said the decision was not an easy one to take. "The worst thing that ever happens, for anyone who works in media, is the closure of a newspaper. Because it feels like part of you is dead," he said.

Peter Bruce, editor in chief of Business Day and The Weekender, was saddened by the decision. "It was a great paper. We will all learn lessons from this, about journalism and about trust," he said.

Founded in 2006, the paper was intended to fill a gap in the market for an upmarket, quality read on Saturday.