Mzwanele Manyi celebrates launch of Afro Worldview and Afro Voice

Mzwanele Manyi, the man who bought ANN7 and The New Age through a complicated vendor finance deal from the controversial Gupta family, proudly tweeted that he had rebranded the news channel on Monday.

The ANN7 news channel was rebranded as Afro Worldview. The New Age newspaper has been renamed Afro Voice.

However, the channel does not look significantly different to ANN7, as the graphics and style remain the same, with the only significant change appearing to be the logos.

Afro Worldview is here with a bang!! pic.twitter.com/bR2QW7hN3l

— Mzwanele Manyi (@MzwaneleManyi) April 30, 2018

Are you ready for change?#AfroVoice in stores from 30 April 2018. Get your copy for only R4.50 pic.twitter.com/J4ftNLu3Vk

— Afro Voice (@AfroVoiceLIVE) April 30, 2018

Like the TV channel, the changes on the newspaper also appear to be mostly cosmetic, with the design itself mirroring The New Age’s, with only the colours and masthead really being different.

Afro Voice newspaper is here tomorrow on the 30th April to replace The New Age. @AfroVoiceLIVE pic.twitter.com/sP2fQUaS43

— Mzwanele Manyi (@MzwaneleManyi) April 29, 2018

Following an announcement that the vendor financing deal had been settled, Manyi’s Afrotone Media Holdings last week unveiled the rebranded television news channel and daily newspaper, both of which went live today.

Afro Worldview has launched a fresh bid for a 24-hour news channel on DStv so it can continue broadcasting, the company said.

The company said this was a ”strategic decision” to break away from the scandal-ridden fugitive Gupta family, who sold the media platforms to Manyi through vendor financing, suggesting the Guptas loaned Manyi the money to buy their media entities. Manyi announced on Saturday that the R450-million price tag had to be renegotiated and was lowered, leading to a full settlement.

The television news channel’s contract on MultiChoice’s DStv platform ends on August 30, following its decision not to renew the ANN7 contract.

Both media outlets have in recent times been marred by internal staff problems, ranging from late payment of salaries to allegations of undocumented staffers, most of whom were brought in by the Guptas from India.

”Afro Worldview’s vision is to be the trusted voice of Africa. It will strive to be the most representative voice of the country and the continent that would also ensure that the plight of the poor and marginalised is brought to the fore,” Afrotone said in a statement.

”The bidding process to award a new black-owned news channel is still under way and the final decision on the winning bidder will be announced by MultiChoice at the end of July 2018.”