The Midrand headquarters of the controversial ANN7 (DStv 405) channel was raided by immigration officials on Thursday afternoon, the department of home affairs confirmed.
The surprise raid comes as the work visas of several ANN7 staffers from India, including several managers, had apparently expired.
Mzwanele "Jimmy" Manyi didn't respond to media enquiries about the home affairs raid on Thursday.
His Afrotone Media Holdings now owns the notoriously biased "Guptanews" channel on DStv that MultiChoice is shutting down at the end of July.
Fugitive Guptas as currently being hunted by South African law enforcement as they continue to evade the law that is looking for them due to their connection to widespread alleged "state capture" in South Africa.
The work permits of several ANN7 staffers from Indian, including multiple managers, have apparently expired, and they allegedly kept working.
ANN7 insiders said Indian workers were herded into the one green room where they were made to wait, while ANN7 staffers looked on.
ANN7 staffers said the home affairs check was "completely unexpected".
The department of home affairs in a statement said that it had conducted a "routine inspection" at ANN7.
"As part of its mandate, the inspectorate directorate of the department undertakes regular inspections on the basis of information provided to them, which information would demand a thorough investigation including in loco inspections."
"In this regard, our officials visited the ANN7 studios to verify information related to visas of certain individuals employed by the organisation".
"Once verified, the department will release the findings of the inspection."
