Former ANN7 editor details Zuma’s alleged role in the channel

Dennis TJune 4, 2019

19 1 minute read

Former ANN7 editor Rajesh Sundaram has detailed former president Jacob Zuma’s alleged involvement in the setup and operations of the channel.

Sundaram claims he was lured to the Gupta-owned TV news station under false pretences.

Sundaram, an Indian national, told the state capture inquiry how Zuma allegedly took a detailed briefing about the channel.

He reports Zuma appreciated that the Guptas took his advice on the channel’s name.

He also told the inquiry how he first met Zuma, who was allegedly without any of his security personnel.

“The first meeting took place on 22 June 2013. The meeting took place at his residence in Pretoria,” Sundaram said.

“It was attended by a team from New Age and Gupta family. To be specific, there was Ajay, Atul, Williams, Nazeem Howa…and there was me.

“This entire meeting was coordinated by Ashwin Chawla and he too was part of the meeting. And the president was on his own, there were no other aides that were present at that meeting.

#StateCaptureInquiry Sundaram says it was only "much later" that he realised then President Jacob Zuma had a "much bigger" interest in ANN7. Sundaram has said that while Duduzane Zuma was the de jure partner but Zuma was the de facto partner and "they trusted him 100 per cent".

— Erin Bates (@ermbates) June 3, 2019

#StateCaptureInquiry Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo takes his seat, Sundaram is seated, too. Norman announces that out of 13 implicated persons, only one has responded. That is Mkuseli Apleni who does not – at this stage – wish to cross examine Sundaram. pic.twitter.com/P9XpvvOEKq

— Erin Bates (@ermbates) June 3, 2019