In March 2017, during the run-up to President Jacob Zuma's firing of Finance Minister
Pravin Gordhan — who had previously actively resisted the pro-Zuma Gupta family's continued and repeated attempts at
state capture of the
Treasury,
Eskom and other
state-owned companies — ANN7 ran repeated and aggressive propaganda campaigns to discredit the minister, often using incomplete or fabricated evidence. The channel was fiercely criticised for spreading partial, biased and fake news in a bid to undermine the Finance Minister, and paint the President in a more favourable light. The international news broadcaster
Al Jazeera English reported that Zuma's close relationship with the Guptas has "translated into friendly coverage in the outlets they own," such as ANN7 and
The New Age newspaper. During the
Zondo Commission of Inquiry into
state capture in June 2019 former ANN7 editor, Rajesh Sundara, testified that then president
Jacob Zuma was actively involved in running the station and dictating its content and message.
Coverage of the 2016 Gupta family controversy {{quote box -
Gwede Mantashe, ANC secretary general In March 2016 ANN7, along with the Gupta-owned newspaper
The New Age, was strongly criticised by the African National Congress (ANC) for its coverage of President
Jacob Zuma's relationship with the Gupta family and the ensuing political controversy around the issue. The broadcaster along with
The New Age apologised for its coverage shortly after the ANC's criticism was stated. == References ==