The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was under investigation by a media commission on Thursday for airing footage of the beheading of a United States hostage in Iraq during its early-evening news programmes.
The Xhosa news bulletin of the SABC showed the two-minute footage of US engineer Eugene Armstrong, who was decapitated by hooded men in Iraq, during its 7.30pm broadcast on Tuesday.
“Everybody was shocked by the viewing,” said Donna Mohamed of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa.
“It went out so early. It’s family time and most parents encourage their children to watch the news and see what’s happening,” she said.
The commission opened an investigation and chairperson Kobus van Rooyen was to view the footage later Thursday to decide if the SABC should face penalties for airing the beheading.
“The chairman will view the footage and decide how to deal with the matter,” said Mohamed.
The same footage was shown on the 10pm evening news on the privately owned e.tv network, which also faces possible action, she said.
The SABC formally apologised to viewers during the same news programme on Wednesday for airing the footage and announced that the editor of the show was suspended pending the outcome of the commission’s investigation.
“We regret the incident. We apologise to the public, to our viewers. It was a terrible mistake by the person responsible and we have taken action against that person,” SABC spokesperson Paul Setsetse said. — Sapa-AFP
We didn’t show it, says e.tv