Oakbay Investments sells controversial ANN7 on DStv and The New Age Newspaper for R450m to former ANC publicist Mzwanele Manyi in a 'vendor licensing' deal.

The former ANC publicist Mzwanele "Jimmy" Manyi's Lodidox company has brought the controversial "Gupta-news" TV channel ANN7 (DStv 405) on DStv for R300 million and the Gupta-newspaper The New Age for R150 million under a "vendor licensing" deal.

"Vendor licensing" means that the Guptas is lending Jimmy Manyi the money to buy their ANN7 and The New Age.

The Bank of Baroda is closing Oakbay Investments bank accounts - including those of ANN7 and The New Age at the end of August.

The borrow-to-buy ANN7 and The New Age sale means the Oakbay media entities get new bank accounts through Jimmy Manyi.

The controversial Jimmy Manyi with close ties to the Guptas frequently appears as a "political analyst" and as an "analyst" on the controversial ANN7 channel carried on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform that just turned 4 years old where he shills for the Guptas and mentions the Bell-Pottinger created "white monopoly capital" catch-phrase.

The unprofessional and news-skewing ANN7 and The New Age continue to hog headlines as part of the "Gupta-leaks" trove of emails and ongoing revelations regarding South African "state-capture and notorious Jacob Zuma-linked dealings.

The Gupta-owned Oakbay Investments in a statement says the R450 million sale of its two media entities "is part of Oakbay’s commitment to preserve jobs and provide certainty to over 7 500 hard-working employees throughout the group and to safeguard the inherent value of the businesses in which they work."

Offloading the controversial ANN7 TV channel from Infinity Media Networks and The New Age to Lodidox "will also allow the shareholder the time to focus on clearing its name in the face of unfounded media allegations", says Oakbay Investments.

"Under a new majority shareholder, Oakbay believes that both businesses and their employees will have the bright and prosperous future they deserve," says Ronica Ragavan, Oakbay Investments acting CEO in the statement.

"We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Lodidox and the management team; the sale of our shareholdings will secure the future of these businesses and help preserve the jobs of their employees."

"Both businesses are inherently sound and well positioned for growth in their respective market segments. We wish them every success in the future."

Jimmy Manyi says he is "delighted to have reached agreement with Oakbay and look forward to successfully completing the deal."

"These are two strong businesses which are full of potential and, under the right external circumstances, can become an increasingly important and relevant part of the South African media landscape."

"In addition, I am particularly impressed that the shareholders of Oakbay have agreed to do a vendor financing at acceptable terms as part of their commitment to transformation and to expedite the transaction."

EMBARRASSING. ANN7 on DStv now so bad it can't even be bothered anymore to provide MultiChoice with a basic programme schedule for DStv subscribers.

ANN7 (DStv 405), the Infinity Media TV news channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV from Oakbay Investments has become so bad that it has completely stopped providing any programme guide and schedule to DStv for the online guide or on-screen electronic programme guide (EPG).

For days now ANN7's schedule has reflected empty, with DStv subscribers and ANN7 viewers unable to set recordings for any shows, and unable to know what is or will be showing on ANN7 at all.

ANN7 thinks so little of MultiChoice and DStv subscribers that it doesn't want to or is unable to provide a schedule and can't be bothered to supply one.

With a totally blank EPG for days now on DStv, ANN7 and Oakbay thinks so little of the content and service that ANN7 provides, that it can't be more blatant in signaling to DStv subscribers, investors, MultiChoice and viewers that it doesn't take its own news service, its service quality and what it provides seriously.

There's been no apology or explanation from ANN7 as to why it doesn't have any programme guide anymore, and no media advisory or statement to the press - it's simply not there and ANN7 can't be bothered about the lack of providing one of the very basic tenets of running a TV channel on a pay-TV platform at all.

Recently reports alleged that MultiChoice is getting ready to cut ANN7, something MultiChoice denied, with one of the reasons according to insiders that ANN7 is terrible about properly communicating about its programming.

DStv subscribers can now see for themselves how true it is. ANN7 isn't willing, or completely unable to provide a basic programme schedule to DStv - meanwhile its DStv that actually pays ANN7 to provide a schedule as part of the carriage contract.

MultiChoiceis simply telling DStv subscribers on a blank ANN7 schedule that "in consequence of the fact that the channel has not provided a schedule, MultiChoice is unable to provide EPG information for this channel". 

Communication Workers Union (CWU) claims ANN7 news channel on DStv targeting unionised staff in yet another ugly disciplinary proceeding drama.

The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) says the Gupta-owned ANN7 (DStv 405) TV news channel is targeting unionised staff members in the ugly disciplinary process that has so far seen a massive 31 staffers hauled before disciplinary hearings last week.

ANN7 journalists and cameramen have been served with disciplinary hearing notices after they boo'ed the ANC Youth League president Collen Maine who dropped by the Infinity Media TV news channel and The New Age headquarters in Midrand in April.

Collen Maine wanted to show "support" to workers, who, according to an "open letter" pleaded with South Africa's banks to reinstate Oakbay Investments bank accounts (Infinity Media is a subsidiary of Oakbay), but was chased away.

50 workers, all belonging to the CWU, were charged with "conduct unbecoming an employee of the company" as well as "desertion of posts or unauthorised leaving of the workplace".

Court grants urgent interdict against EFF; bars the political party from threatening, interfering with ANN7 and The New Age reporters and inciting violence.

The urgent court interdict brought against the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) was granted on Tuesday that the Gupta-owned ANN7 (DStv 405) TV news channel and The New Age newspaper brought against the political party.

Oakbay Investments - a shareholder in the Gupta-owned media and other companies - as well as Oakbay Investments CEO Nazeem Howa along with other plaintiffs asked the North Gauteng High Court on Tuesday for the court order to force the EFF not to commit violence against ANN7 or the newspaper, its assets like property, and staff.

The Guptas' court interdict granted by judge Johan Louw also asked the EFF not to interfere with the activities of ANN7 and The New Age reporters and journalists. The EFF opposed the application.

The court interdict prevents the EFF from threatening ANN7 and The New Age reporters, and from making threats of violence against the Gupta brothers Ajay, Atul and Rajesh.

According to the court interdict granted, the EFF is barred from interfering with the activities of ANN7 or The New Age reporters and can't bar these reporters from attending any public political EFF events.

The EFF is also not allowed to incite violence against the Guptas, their 4 500 employees through public statements, press releases or public speeches, is not allowed to damage Gupta-owned property and isn't allowed to incite followed to enter the premises of Gupta-owned properties illegally.

The EFF is barred from intimidating the Guptas and their employees, or to cause these employees to fear for their lives or safety, or to limit their reasonable freedom of movement and trade.

EFF leader Julius Malema last week went on a scathing tirade against ANN7 and The New Age, banning reporters and journalists from ANN7 and The New Age from attending any EFF events or press conferences and using threatening language saying their safety can't be guaranteed.

It saw the abrupt cut of a televised broadcast from the EFF press conference as the ANN7 crew killed the feed, packed up and left.

Julius Malema said the EFF wants the influential Guptas with strong ties to president Jacob Zuma, to leave the Gauteng province and South Africa.

"We don't want to see The New Age and ANN7. It's propaganda machinery," said Julius Malema.

Gupta owners of the ANN7 TV news channel and The New Age newspaper files urgent court interdict against the EFF party against possible violence, media interference.

The Gupta-owned ANN7 (DStv 405) TV news channel and The New Age newspaper have filed an urgent court interdict against the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party.

Oakbay Investments - a shareholder in the Gupta-owned media and other companies - as well as Oakbay Investments CEO Nazeem Howa along with other plaintiffs are asking the North Gauteng High Court to order the EFF not to commit violence against ANN7 or the newspaper, its assets like property, and staff.

The Guptas in the interdict application also want the court to order the EFF not to interfere with the activities of ANN7 and The New Age reporters and journalists. The EFF is opposing the application.

The urgent court interdict application comes after the EFF leader Julius Malema last week went on a scathing tirade against ANN7 and The New Age, banning reporters and journalists from ANN7 and The New Age from attending any EFF events or press conferences and using threatening language saying their safety can't be guaranteed.

It saw the abrupt cut of a televised broadcast from the EFF press conference as a ANN7 crew killed the feed, packed up and left.

Julius Malema said the EFF wants the influential Guptas with strong ties to president Jacob Zuma, to leave the Gauteng province and South Africa.

"We don't want to see The New Age and ANN7. It's propaganda machinery," said Julius Malema.

In the affidavit filed in the urgent court interdict application, Nazeem Howa says "Julius Malema lashed out at the Gupta brothers and their commercial interests with a clear and unambiguous threat of violence and xenophobia".

The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) that has members working at ANN7 and The New Age newspaper says "state security agencies", the Guptas and Oakbay Investments must protect the workers and reporters.

"As a union we are up in arms against ANN7 and The New Age with regard to poor working conditions in these companies and we know how exploited these workers are and how they struggle daily to make ends meet," says CWU secretary Aubrey Tshabalala.

"These are our members and we will encourage the EFF to fight its political battles with the Guptas and not focus on easy targets, that is the defenseless workers".

"We call upon state security agencies including the employer to provide sufficient protection for our members at ANN7 and New Age while they are on duty trying to make a living. We further call for an indaba of all stakeholders in the media industry to discuss issues of security and allowances for field journalists".

ANN7 news channel on DStv named the worst employer in South Africa, Sabido's e.tv and Telkom also shamed in Cosatu's list of worst workplaces.

ANN7 (DStv 405), the South African TV news channel from Infinity Media has been named the worst employer in South Africa by Cosatu, with Sabido's e.tv also shamed by the trade federation.

At its 12th congress held in Midrand, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) singled out ANN7, known as "Guptanews" as the worst employer in South Africa.

Over the past year and a half the Infinity Media run channel also based in Midrand has seen a spate of resignations from several on-air talent who've left since ANN7 launched, as well as production staff and journalists.

 The Gupta family-owned news television channel, ANN7, is now the worst employer in South Africa, according to the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).

Infinity Media is co-owned by Oakbay Investments that belongs to the Gupta family.

ANN7 was nominated by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) that represents employees at the news channel.

"If you want to be recognised as a progressive media house, pay your workers correctly," Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini told the Cosatu national congress.

The Gupta owned TV news channel has constantly remained more in the news for the eye-popping and tumultuous personnel and human resources drama happening behind the scenes at its Midrand based headquarters than for anything else.

In August an ANN7 journalist physically attacked and assaulted the channel's own news editor Abhinav Sahay in the ANN7 Midrand newsroom, and since then more people left like anchors Gladys Sithole and Nzinga Qunta.

Presenter Asanda Magaqa was fired in November 2015 and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) ruled that ANN7 was guilty of unfair dismissal and ordered the channel to pay her R500 000.

Other bad employers according to Cosatu that made its list include another broadcaster - South Africa's only free-to-air commercial TV channel e.tv, as well as Telkom and the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, said Zingiswa Losi, Cosatu's second deputy president.