The controversial pastor Paseka "Mboro" Motsoeneng's touted new gospel show, Incredible Happenings, on ANN7 (DStv 405) failed to start on Sunday as promised, with Motsoeneng saying he pulled his show at the last minute since ANN7 is still linked with the controversial Gupta family.
ANN7 that will be going dark on DStv after MultiChoice decided to dump the channel in August, suddenly wants to add non-news shows like Incredible Happenings, changing the channel's contractual value proposition - what it is supposed to broadcast - to viewers.
Mzwanele Manyi is the new owner of ANN7 where disgruntled staffers struggled to get paid at the end of February.
Pastor Mboro said he pulled his show after discovering that ANN7 is still linked to the Guptas.
"My relationship with ANN7 started when I was approached to produce a show for the station. It was supposed to start on Sunday but there were issues I wasn't happy with since I discovered its history with the Guptas."
"They are still with the channel. When I realised it still had something to do with the Guptas and after failing to meet top manager Mzwanele Manyi, I felt I couldn't go on air."
ANN7 in a statement on Monday evening entitled "communication breakdown delays launch of new gospel show", said that "in response to pastor Paseka "Mboro" Motsoeneng's statement, ANN7 management can confirm that a meeting was held on Monday to clarify certain matters relating to an agreement to air his gospel show".
"The channel management had a successful and progressive meeting with the pastor and agreed to work together in executing the project. The meeting agreed that there was a breakdown of communication."
"Pastor Mboro's main concern relates to the inherent channel's historical matters such as trading names and the existing brand names. It is common knowledge that the media companies (ANN7 and The New Age) have recently been bought from the Gupta family-owned Oakbay Investments, there are old archives that have Gupta history and this has caused confusion in taking this project forward".
ANN7 said "Mzwanele Manyi agreed with Motsoeneng and committed the channel to continue working on the project under strict supervision".
No new possible starting date about Incredible Happenings were provided.
