Shock
and outrage have greeted Tuesday's accidental airing of the death hoax
of revered South African former president, Nelson Mandela, fondly called
Madiba.
The
Universal Channel (shown on DStv channel 117) had aired a programme
'Remembering Nelson Mandela', apparently from an already prepared file
on the global icon.
The
channel on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV cable network platform had
accidentally aired the obituary to its millions of viewers who took to
the social networks to express their shock and grief. Mandela's health
had relapsed last week following infection of his lung. But latest
reports from the hospital indicates that his condition is improving.
But
realising its gaffe, the cable network has expressed its dismay at the
technical error, noting that it was a glitch and not intentional as
claimed in some quarters. It tendered apology.
more story below....
The
statement released by the Universal Networks International which
programmes the Universal Channel on DStv reads in part: "Like any
international broadcaster, Universal Networks holds obituaries ready for
every major statesman in the world.
"Universal
Networks wishes to offer a sincere and heartfelt apology for the airing
of such an announcement for Nelson Mandela which was broadcast last
night on the Universal Channel due to a technical error by our team.
"We
unreservedly apologise to the Mandela family, to Universal Channel
viewers and to DStv subscribers for the alarm and offence caused by this
error. Our thoughts and best wishes are with Madiba and his family for a
speedy and full recovery."
When contacted, DStv Head of Communications, Mr. Segun Fayose, said he would send a mail to that effect.
Source: ThisDay
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