The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed it has launched an investigation into the visa irregularities at the Gupta-owned 24-hour news channel, Africa News Network 7 (ANN7), or if you prefer, Gupta-TV.

So far, seven of the news network’s staff members have been confirmed to have entered the country on visitor visas, which prohibit them from seeking employment in SA. Furthermore, over two dozen “production professionals” were brought in from India to help get the channel off the ground. You can see the production professionals’ hard work really paid off – remember their launch?

Former ANN7 consulting editor, Rajesh Sundaram, said that his colleagues from India did not have the required documentation to work in South Africa, but parent company Infinity Media’s Nazeem Howa maintains all paperwork is in order. Home Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa says ANN7 management will be questioned to determine “whether there is any wrongdoing or otherwise”.

Immigration attorney Julian Pokroy says the penalties for employers flouting these laws are severe.

For a first offence, they would be liable for a fine and a third offence would result in up to three years imprisonment without the option of a fine.

[Source : Eyewitness News]