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Gupta TV ANN7 could get canned - report

Cape Town - The woes of Gupta-owned Oakbay Investments could get worse with its Africa News Network (ANN7) news channel possibly being pulled from Multichoice's DStv satellite television service.

The Sunday Times reported that MultiChoice is on course to axe ANN7 when the existing contract expires in August. Sources told the newspaper that this is a result of growing viewership complaints that included inconsistent programming, on-air mistakes and the unexpected changing of anchors.

While Oakbay's spokesperson Gary Naidoo failed to respond to questions by the newspaper, MultiChoice told the Sunday publication that there are no developments about ANN7 to report on.

The full report is available in the Sunday Times.

ANN7, which was launched in August 2013, is available on all DStv packages, and therefore has a reach of 4.5 million subscribers.

However, AGB Nielsen Media Research shows that the news channel has a small viewership share compared to other news networks. In March it reported that viewership figures dropped to 8.83% from 10.66% in February.  

The Gupta business empire have been dealt a heavy blow by companies cutting business ties with it amid accusations that the wealthy family wields influence over President Jacob Zuma and state matters.

Banks - Standard Bank, FNB, Absa and Nedbank as well as accounting firm KPMG and sponsor Sasfin Capital - severed ties with the Oakbay Investments.

Mines Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan had been tasked to intervene after the banks cut ties with the Gupta-owned business.

Living the life in Dubai

Meanwhile, City Press reported on Sunday that members of the Gupta family have taken up residence in a R445m Dubai mansion after leaving South Africa on a private jet a month ago.

"Decorated in marble and gold, and with 10 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, nine reception rooms, a double grand staircase, hand-painted dome, space for 11 cars, and chandeliers in virtually every room, the house is extravagant even by Dubai’s standards," the newspaper states.

Read the full story on City Press.

DA MP David Maynier said in a statement that the Guptas' lavish lifestyle in Dubai reinforces concerns that they may have illegally moved assets and cash out of South Africa.

He said he requested director of the Financial Intelligence Centre, Murray Michell, to investigate these allegations. However Maynier said the reply was designed to obfuscate rather than illuminate.

"Even the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, refused to reply to a direct question on this matter during last week’s National Treasury budget vote debate in Parliament," said Maynier.
 
"I have, therefore, submitted a parliamentary question probing whether the Financial Intelligence Centre is conducting an investigation into whether the Guptas illegally moved assets, including large amounts of cash, out of South Africa."
 
He said the reply will hopefully end weeks of zig-zagging around the Financial Intelligence Centre.

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