{"id":340183,"date":"2020-02-25T16:05:33","date_gmt":"2020-02-25T14:05:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=340183"},"modified":"2020-02-25T17:44:47","modified_gmt":"2020-02-25T15:44:47","slug":"yunus-carrim-drops-multichoice-bombshell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/broadcasting\/340183-yunus-carrim-drops-multichoice-bombshell.html","title":{"rendered":"Yunus Carrim drops MultiChoice bombshell"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former communications minister Yunus Carrim slated MultiChoice and the SABC for \u201cpolicy capture\u201d related to set-top box encryption<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Carrim said a R553-million deal between MultiChoice and the SABC<\/strong><\/a> was all about ensuring that there was no signal encryption in South Africa\u2019s digital TV specification.<\/p>\n

Signal encryption would make it easier for companies like Etv to enter the pay-TV market – something which MultiChoice allegedly wanted to prevent.<\/p>\n

MultiChoice said at the time encryption was unnecessary for set-top box control, and it was a way to get the poor to subsidise Etv\u2019s entry into the pay-TV space.<\/p>\n

According to Carrim, MultiChoice inserted a controversial clause into its SABC agreement which ensured the public broadcaster followed the pay-TV giant\u2019s stance on encryption.<\/p>\n

Carrim said former MultiChoice CEO Imtiaz Patel made it clear that excluding this clause in the agreement with SABC will be a deal-breaker.<\/p>\n

What followed was that the SABC changed its official stance from supporting encryption to opposing it \u2013 all within a matter of weeks.<\/p>\n

Carrim said this about-turn by the SABC was particularly strange as it was against the policy directive of the ANC and the government\u2019s plan to increase competition in the pay-TV market.<\/p>\n

Accusations of insider political knowledge<\/h3>\n

During his testimony, Carrim said he was warned on a few occasions that opposing MultiChoice\u2019s stance on encryption would have dire consequences for him.<\/p>\n

He said while there was no direct reference to what the risks were, he understood it to mean that he will be fired as a minister for supporting encryption.<\/p>\n

This is exactly what happened. Carrim was replaced by Faith Muthambi when former President Jacob Zuma announced his new cabinet in May 2014.<\/p>\n

While Carrim did not bemoan the fact that he was replaced, he highlighted that a few strange things happened before he received the call from the President about the decision.<\/p>\n

He said MultiChoice\u2019s regulatory affairs official knew two months before he was replaced that it was going to happen, and even that Muthambi was set to be the new communications minister.<\/p>\n

Carrim said this is particularly curious as he had no knowledge of this and did not even know that he was going to be replaced.<\/p>\n

He added that two weeks before the new cabinet was announced, former SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng and MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela had a party in Sandton to celebrate his imminent departure.<\/p>\n

It is not clear how MultiChoice gained this insight long before the minister himself was told that he will be replaced.<\/p>\n

MultiChoice responds<\/h3>\n

Joe Heshu, MultiChoice group executive for corporate affairs, told MyBroadband that Carrim\u2019s allegations concerning MultiChoice and some of its officials are baseless.<\/p>\n

\u201cMultiChoice and its officials deny these allegations,\u201d Heshu said.<\/p>\n

He added that MultiChoice has noted that Carrim confirmed under oath that he cannot attest to having personal knowledge of any fraud or corruption in respect of the SABC\/MultiChoice agreement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have informed the Zondo Commission that we will respond to the allegations made against us in due course and reserve all of our rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yunus Carrim testimony<\/h3>\n