MultiChoice equals No Choice

On the 31st January 2018, MultiChoice announced its decision not to renew its carriage contract with the African News Network 7 (ANN7) as of the 20th August 2018 based on a report by the company's audit and risk committees. The press statement of MultiChoice did not reveal any wrongdoing on the part of either party. MultiChoice enjoys a dominant position which can be deemed a monopoly within the subscription television market in South Africa. MultiChoice's decision can therefore be equated to media censorship which goes against the substance and intent of the South African constitution. In recent times, MultiChoice was threatened by business, civil organizations and others to remove ANN7 from its bouquet for political reasons and unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and corruption. It is the firm opinion of the petitioners that MultiChoice's decision is a direct result of the board and its management buckling under the pressure from the lobby against ANN7. In posture, ANN7 represents the views and desires of the disenfranchised, economically excluded black majority in South Africa. MultiChoice's unfair and discriminatory action gives rise to this petition.