South Africa state broadcaster SABC has suspended three employees claiming that last week's transmission of the wrong clip of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech to the nation was “sabotage.”
It showed Mr Ramaphosa fluffing his prepared speech and asking to repeat it.
His address focused on xenophobic attacks in the country and the murder of a young woman which had sparked protests in the country.
The clip that was broadcast was shared on social media and widely mocked, with some criticizing Mr Ramaphosa.
SABC's head of news Phathiswa Magopheni said the broadcast was “a huge embarrassment.”
She said someone had switched the tapes:
"The correct clip was prepared in time, about 45 minutes, before going to air but for some reason, someone decided to change the clip without telling anyone. The correct clip was prepared in time, about 45 minutes, before going to air but for some reason, someone decided to change the clip without telling anyone.
The preliminary investigation says there was some element of coordination. It was a well-considered and well-coordinated exercise."The preliminary investigation says there was some element of coordination. It was a well-considered and well-coordinated exercise."
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