The South African Broadcasting Corporation was found guilty of contravening the broadcasting code for airing footage of the beheading of a hostage in Iraq, SABC news said on Tuesday.
The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA fined the SABC R15 000 for broadcasting the beheading on its Nguni television news.
The SABC had not repeated the broadcast and had apologised on all its services for the error.
The commission said in light of these mitigating factors it would not impose the maximum fine of R40 000.
The SABC showed the two-minute footage of United States engineer Eugene Armstrong, who was decapitated by hooded men in Iraq, during a 7.30pm broadcast in September.
The broadcaster suspended the executive producer of the show, pending the outcome of the commission’s investigation. – Sapa