The new Web site IOL Classifieds, launched this week, will give access to the collective classified advertising sections of all the newspapers in South Africa's Independent News & Media Group.

These papers include The Star, The Cape Times, The Cape Argus and The Mercury, as well as IOL's own service. The collective circulation of the group's newspapers reaches over 2.2 million print readers and 2.2 million unique online users.

The Web site is intended to capitalise on the group's assets.

“By using our special high-tech search engine, users will be able to find what interests them and is available locally in just a few clicks,” said Lawrence Brown, or IOL, in a BizCommunity article. “At the same time, those wishing to actually place an ad will be able to do so via our unique online ad-booking and creation platform, complete with secure online payment gateway.”