Zuma confirms initiating newspaper, TV channel ideas with Guptas

Former South Africa president Jacob Zuma has said that he initiated the idea that led to the controversial Indian-origin Gupta family establishing their media empire, which has since collapsed.Zuma said he had conceived the idea of having an “alternative media” in South Africa because “the media in this country is very biased; at all material times, just critical”.He started his long-awaited testimony on Monday before the Zondo Commission, which is inquiring into allegations of “state capture” during his rule.Zuma said the African National Congress had been trying to establish some media as an “alternative” voice, but despite trying by partnering with other people, this had never worked.He had then suggested that a newspaper be established, which the ANC had agreed to. This led to him approaching the Guptas with the idea.”They seemed to be warm to the idea” Zuma said, adding that he and ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe met the Guptas to further discuss the idea. “When (the Guptas) were ready with the idea, they said to me: ‘Give us a name; we don’t know what to call this newspaper’.” He gave them some names of newspapers during the freedom struggle, from which they selected ‘The New Age’.”When this paper was operating and really being appreciated in this country to bring in an alternative voice, I wondered whether I could push them further,” he said. “I suggested the paper to them; I suggested the [TV] channel [ANN7].
The Guptas partnered with a media house in India to establish the ANN7 channel, which was closed down after allegations of their involvement in “state capture” emerged.
The New Age was earlier first sold to an individual with controversial vendor financing from the Guptas, but also shut down after being economically unviable.