In October 2009, I reported on the digital statistics in the article ‘De Rebus Digital in action’ 2009 (Oct) DR 10. In September 2013, I gave the statistics on reader activity in the article titled ‘De Rebus Digital is on the rise’ 2013 (Sept) DR 11. In the article I wrote that the analysis showed that the unique visits to the De Rebus digital platforms amounted to 3 570. I can gladly report that the De Rebus numbers have increased significantly over the past few years.
For the period of 1 to 31 August 2022, the number of unique browsers (users who have initiated at least one session during the date range) to the De Rebus website (www.derebus.org.za) amounted to 62 812. The amount of unique page views totalled 127 349. The page views are the total number of pages viewed and according to statistics, every unique browser has view 1,42 pages per month on the website.
Subscribers to the De Rebus website currently totals 12 500. If you would like to create a profile on the website, you can do so by visiting www.derebus.org.za.
Since the last report in 2013, De Rebus has found footing on three social media platforms, namely, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. The table below is a comparison of the growth from August 2021 to August 2022.
| Social media platform | August 2021 | August 2022 |
| 2 583 | 3 731 | |
| 19 391 | 21 553 | |
| 9 499 | 10 731 |
De Rebus also has an App, which is available on the Apple iStore and Google Play Store. The number of users who have downloaded the App currently stands at 9 283. Android users amount to 5 251 and iOS users amount to 4 032.
In 2018, due to budgetary constraints, the decision was taken by the Law Society of South Africa, to publish De Rebus digitally. The last printed issue of the De Rebus that was sent to all practising attorneys was distributed in January 2019.
However, if you miss the hard copy and would still like to hold the journal in your hands, you can subscribe to De Rebus. Subscribers will receive their copies via registered post. The subscription is
R 2 000 (including VAT) per annum, which includes the 11 issues of De Rebus, as well as hardcopies of the Risk Alert Bulletin, published by the Legal Practitioners’ Indemnity Insurance Fund NPC.
The PDF version of De Rebus can be downloaded digitally from the De Rebus website for free. The journal is loaded on the first day of every month and can be kept on your digital device to read at your leisure. De Rebus also sends out a newsletter, informing readers when the latest issue is available. If you are not one of the 61 692 readers who are receiving the newsletter, you can opt in by e-mailing: Kathleen@derebus.org.za.
De Rebus has several advertising opportunities for advertisers who would like to reach the profession.
Advertisers can advertise in the PDF and printed journal, the website, the newsletter, on the App or in the Classifieds online or the Classifieds PDF supplement. Advertisers are welcome to download the rate card from the De Rebus website at www.derebus.org.za.
The journal is currently downloaded over 1 000 times per month from the De Rebus website. However, the articles published in the PDF version are also published on the website and the App, so no matter where you are, you can have De Rebus at your fingertips, whether at the office or on your mobile at court.
Kathleen Kriel BTech (Journ) is the Production Editor at De Rebus.
This article was first published in SA Lawyer in 2022 (Sept) DR 8.
