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ANC Outraged At Broadcasting Mandela Obituary Error
The ANC has expressed shock and outrage that DStv’s Universal Channel broadcast an obituary of former president Nelson Mandela last night.
ANC national spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said while the party welcomed the apology from the channel, the broadcast was “uncalled for and totally insensitive on the part of DStv as Nelson Mandela is alive and receiving treatment”.
The Universal Channel apologised for flighting the obituary last night.
Universal Networks, which owns DStv’s Channel 117, today issued a statement through DStv apologising for screening the message entitled “Remembering Madiba 1918-2013”.
A still clip from the broadcast posted by an upset Facebook user showed a picture of a younger Mandela with the following information: “His great grandfather and father both ruled as Inkosi Enkhulu (sic), or king, of the Thembu people in the Transkei region.”
The channel apologised to the ailing elderly statesman, who is currently recovering from a lung infection in hospital, saying a technical error led to the broadcast.
“Like any international broadcaster, Universal Networks holds obituaries ready for every major statesman in the world.
“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,” it said.
The Facebook user who saw the message during the broadcast of Monk expressed surprise, saying he “always thought such captions were reserved for deceased people”.
Some users of microblogging site Twitter were also irritated by the glitch.
One user asked if it was true that Madiba had passed on. Using the Twitter handle @Londzz_M, she tweeted: “Just saw a clip on universal channel saying mandela is dead, iqiniso vele?”
Jonty Lewis, tweeting as @Tweeks, said: “Universal channel already showing Mandela 1920-2013…He not even passed yet…. Tasteless DStv”.
@Chelimo_: asked : “I’m confused. Doesn’t year – year mean someones died?”.
@R_Mutuse tweeted: “Universal channel on DStv showing an ad of Mandela 1920-2013. Sad!!”
Twitter user @rejoicedan said: “Shame on all of You, Allow the Man to die, i know everyone is at the edge of their seat to hear the news of his Death.Shame”
Today, presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said doctors were happy with Mandela’s progress.
“His doctors say he continues to respond satisfactorily to treatment and is much better now than he was when he was admitted to hospital,” said Maharaj.
City press
Posted by
Mwablokelanji Blogging?
April 4, 2013 at 1:40 pm
Nalemba 5 replies to this story and I can’t c them
****** WesTeRN MeDIa
April 4, 2013 at 2:29 pm
This Universal is not even a news channel but a Movie channel so who were they trying to scoop?
Nyengist
April 4, 2013 at 3:38 pm
Uncultured sons of b.i.t.ches! write an orbituary for sata instead!
CNP-4U
April 4, 2013 at 4:43 pm
is he still alive.,..?
Genaro the Analyst
April 4, 2013 at 7:49 pm
remember how the rumour for Late Pres. Mwanawasa was aired by some broadcastor..the govt later dennounced the claims but and yet it originated to be true..Dstv has bin in service for a lng tym its rear they wud mk such a mistake..lts wait. Analyzed
berezovsky
April 4, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Let mandela go and rest. No one can live 4ever at now. I dnt thnk he’ll live up to june 2013.
Zama Mkwanazi
April 4, 2013 at 10:26 pm
Genaro you have nothing sensible to say. Try and use your brains more sanely. Get some education! It helps people in how to make up their minds by separating chaffe from the wheat Also use your access to DSTV intelligently. Your access to the web avails u plenty SA media read them!
Zama Mkwanazi
April 4, 2013 at 10:37 pm
some lecture 4 Genaro: Those with some education know that DSTV is a platform it is one of a 100+ channels on the DSTV platform. Universal is a channel that airs from America.
Crazy Western Media
April 4, 2013 at 11:14 pm
I have blogged reblogged and blogged my opinion under different names. 100 times and its not appearing Ba 2mfweko mwaba kwati mubombelapamo naba shu shu shu
cooper
April 7, 2013 at 9:51 pm
Ba Genaro the Analyst, just drink your sperm to cool off your hang over. It appears you have nothing to say on this forum. Am sure you were born from your mum’s anus not vagina because your behavior is very frightening.
iphonecharger.page.tl
June 24, 2013 at 5:43 pm
Too cool giving us helpful hints! All good ideas worth considering.
Thanks a lot – Going back next week. Very much
appreciated information!