Call for probe into MultiChoice deal
COMMUNICATIONS Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has called for an investigation into allegedly questionable payments made by MultiChoice to Gupta- owned news channel ANN7.
“We would not fold our arms as if nothing has happened. Investigations must happen‚” KubayiNgubane said yesterday.
She said the government could only get involved in the matter if there were allegations of corruption.
“What happened between MultiChoice and ANN7 is a contract of two parties,” she said.
As the controversy grows, MultiChoice has become under increasing pressure to “come clean” about the contracts.
Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) chief executive Wayne Duvenage said: “Hiding behind confidentiality clauses and telling half-truths is no longer an option in today’s world of citizen power‚ when the public can exercise its purchase strength to trigger the demise of organisations that profit from unacceptable and undue conduct.”
He called on MultiChoice to come clean and provide all the facts related to its transactions with ANN7.
“It would appear that not only did the Guptas get what they wanted in the launch of their own news channel ANN7‚ which was rewarded with lucrative annual payments from MultiChoice to the tune of R140-million‚ but MultiChoice also appears to have benefited through transactions involving the Minister of Communications’ cancellation of the roll-out of a competitive encryption service for all TV platforms.”
MultiChoice has denied the allegations. – TimesLIVE