Victor Sidney Norton, journalist and first South African-born editor of the Cape Times, dies in Cape Town

Victor Sidney Norton was born in Johannesburg to an English father and a Swedish mother. His father Sidney Peter Norton was a journalist and would influence his son’s future career path. Norton joined The Star Newspaper in 1927, but was soon transferred to the Bulawayo Chronicle in Rodesia (now Zimbabwe). In 1931, Norton and fellow reporter Bob Crisp headed for Cape Town with plans to venture into South America, but were deterred by a bout of foot and mouth disease. The two of them got jobs at The Cape Times instead. By 1944, Norton was Chief Subeditor of The Cape times, making him the first South African-born Chief Subeditor. He died in Johannesburg on 4 May 1983.