The ANC has slated DStv for a televised obituary which ran on the Universal Channel on Tuesday (3 April 2013).<\/p>\n
On Tuesday evening, Universal Channel ran an obituary titled \u201cRemembering Madiba\u201d which gave users the impression that the former president had passed away.<\/p>\n
The ANC responded to the programme, saying it was \u201cshocked and outraged\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe African National Congress is shocked and outraged to learn that a DSTV television channel last night televised an obituary of our former president, President Nelson Mandela,\u201d the ANC said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was uncalled for and totally insensitive on the part of DSTV as President Mandela is alive and receiving treatment for a recurring lung infection, as reported by the Presidency.\u201d<\/p>\n
Universal Networks International, which runs the channel on DStv, said that the programme had been prematurely broadcast due to a \u201ctechnical error\u201d.<\/p>\n
Responding to the shocked viewer reaction to the show, the channel issued a \u201cheartfelt\u201d apology to the Mandela family.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike any international broadcaster, Universal Networks holds obituaries ready for every major statesman in the word,\u201d the channel said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUniversal 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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 Madbia and his family for a speedy and full recovery,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
Despite its anger, the ANC said that it welcomed the apology extended by DStv on the error committed in this regard.<\/p>\n
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