BREAKING. Church demands a public apology from SABC3's Special Assignment; church livid over visuals and 'irresponsible coverage'.

The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) is demanding a public apology from SABC3 and the  TV channel's weekly investigative and current affairs programme, Special Assignment, after the church says it was "astonished" to see visuals of its churches included in a Special Assignment episode about illegal drug activities.

In this past Thursday's episode entitled "Praise the Drug lord" produced by Richelle Seton-Rogers, Special Assignment on SABC3 reported on informal churches and ministries popping up, loosely regulated, and with pastors being involved in drug dealing.

The programme looked a innocent people who "just want to attend a place of worship and who are being unwittingly pulled into the plots of criminal pastors."

"By association viewers would assume that as images of UCKG were included in the content, it was involved in the activities mentioned. This is completely false and wrongful!" says the UCKG in a strongly worded statement. The episode in question of Special Assignment was shown on SABC3 on Thursday 23 May.

The UCKG says "thousands of members were astonished to see visuals of two UCKG churches in a Special Assignment programme".

"The leadership of the church objects in the strongest terms to this inaccurate and irresponsible coverage which has damaged the reputation of the organisation and created untrue and incorrect impressions in the minds of millions of viewers," says the UCKG.

The UCKG demands a public apology "as a matter of urgency, failing which further action will be taken," says the church.

I've reached out to SABC3 to hear whether the broadcaster has any comment.