President Ramaphosa makes mistake on live TV while addressing xenophobic attacks

A video of the moment President Cyril Ramaphosa made a mistake while addressing South Africans on gender-based violence crisis and xenophobic attacks witnessed in the country has gone viral on social media, and has been described as an embarrassing and epic fall.

The South African President started off his address by reading from a teleprompter at the SABC’s parliamentary studios. However a couple of seconds in, Ramaphosa made a mistake which he flagged on Live TV by saying: “Let’s start again. I made a mistake”.

Following the backlash that ensued after the video was leaked, SABC has apologized to President Cyril Ramaphosa for flighting the pre-recorded message that included a re-take of his address to the nation on Thursday evening.

“The public broadcaster wishes to apologise to the president of the republic and the nation for any embarrassment caused in this unfortunate breach of the news production process,” SABC spokesperson Vuyo Mthembu said in a statement.

“The SABC takes this issue seriously and can assure the president and the public that due process will be followed and appropriate action taken.”