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Former Gupta linked company vies for TV licence at Icasa

Infinity Media, which previously had links to Gupta-owned Oakbay Investments, is one of four companies vying for a commercial free-to-air television licence, with its current owner Mzwanele Manyi saying they are ready to start broadcasting immediately. 

Manyi was making his submission before the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) on Thursday, during the first day of public hearings.

Manyi told the Icasa panel that his company planned to offer a service that would provide an "alternative voice" to the South African audience, and brushed off unfair and negative associations with its previous owners.

In August 2017, Gupta-owned Oakbay Investments sold ANN7 (part of Infinity Media) for R300m and The New Age newspaper for R150m to Manyi in a vendor-financed deal. Manyi, a government spin doctor turned entrepreneur, said people believed he was offered cash to fund the venture.

"It’s not like I ... was given R450m; that is not true," he said.

The news channel Afro Worldview – previously known as ANN7 – shut down in August 2018 after its contract was terminated by pay TV operator MultiChoice.

Manyi said the public had felt the void of its absence, adding: "There is hunger for our kind of approach."

"The cameras are there, the studio is there…I am not asking for money from the regulator, I am just asking for a platform," said Manyi, who appeared before the regulator alone.

The panel also sought clarity from Manyi regarding the shareholding of Infinity Media. Manyi holds 90%.

According to his application, the rest of the shares are held by Super Projects Trading, which is equally controlled by Gary Naidoo, a former senior manager at ANN7, and his partner Abhinav Sahay.

Manyi said Sahay was not a South African national and had since disposed of his shareholding. Other companies who are also applying are Kwese Free TV, Tshwaranang Media and Free To Air TV.

The hearings will conclude on Friday.

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