ANN7 (DStv 405) is responding about Indian workers and "foreign nationals" at Infinity Media Networks working at the new 24-hour TV news channel on MultiChoice's DStv platform with "holiday" visas, saying the media organisation will work with South African authorities.
ANN7 and Infinity Media is now being investigated by South Africa's department of home affairs following Indian workers at the news channel who indicated "holiday" as the reason for visiting South Africa on their granted visa applications.
According to the visas issues, they're prohibited from working and being employed in South Africa although that is what they're doing.
Nazeem Howa, group CEO of TNA Media says its "noted the sensational claims surrounding Infinity Media Networks and its employment practices at ANN7" and says "we have every confidence that we have followed the correct process and will co-operate fully with the authorities to confirm that our actions have been within the regulations".
Nazeem Howa says "the media has focused on eight people out of a total staff complement of 200, including 40 young graduate South Africans who are now on the full time staff at ANN7."
Nazeem Howa says "we have made no secret of the involvement of our Indian shareholder, Essel Media, and the reliance we have on the skills from our partner to operate the world class systems we have installed at ANN7 and for which little local expertise exists. Their involvement in our business followed an exhaustive process to hire local people."
Nazeem Howa says the total number of non- South Africans on the ANN7 staff is 36 and that the channel's staffing mix "shows our commit [sic] to local hiring practices and the utlisation of international experts to help impart skills among this young cadre of media workers."
He says he has "every confidence" that the news channel, so far derided for its shoddy offering and ongoing on-air mistakes, has "followed the correct process, and will co-operate fully with the authorities to confirm that our actions have been within the regulations".
