"The idea is that you can now send the editor comments, but many people use [abbreviations] on SMS. Do you publish as it is or rewrite the comment for clarity and understanding?" said Steven Lang, editor at Grocott's Mail, which is South Africa's oldest newspaper, established in 1870.

Nika's online version was presented at the annual Highway Africa conference last week, and participating editors and journalists were asked to test it. The software can be used online or installed on company servers, depending on the media house's preference.

"[The] Nika platform emphasizes the commitment we have in encouraging media houses to automate and make use of open-source tools," said Guy Berger, head of Rhodes School of Journalism, at the conference.