DSTV Accidentally Announces Nelson Mandela's Death

This may not be the best of times for the South African Pay-TV platform, Multichoice's DSTV, as it erroneously broadcast an "obituary" Remembering Madiba on Tuesday night about the elderly statesman, Nelson Mandela- who is very much alive, and currently receiving treatment in a hospital in South Africa.

Universal Channel (DSTV 117) aired the erroneous report of the death.

The Broadcast organisation has come out immediately with a statement apologizing profusely for the 'technical error'.

The apology goes on to read:

"Like any international broadcaster, Universal Networks holds obituaries ready for every major statesman in the world," Universal Networks International, which programmes the Universal Channel on DSTV said after the gaffe.

"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 apologize to the Mandela family, to Universal Channel viewers and to DSTV subscribers for the alarm and offense caused by this error. Our thoughts and best wishes are with Madiba and his family for a speedy and full recovery," says Universal Networks International.

But so many people reacted to the huge gaffe on Twitter.


*I am wondering how such an error was committed. Such a huge mistake!! What if, God forbid, Mandela dies tomorrow? What a mess this would turn out to be for Universal Networks*