@eNCA why is your Anchor imocking Min Angie's inability to pronounce an English word ? pic.twitter.com/Nh9pEhaLmA
— @esethuhasane (@EsethuHasane) January 6, 2016
The respected eNCA (DStv 403) senior anchor Andrew Barnes has apologised after causing a social media firestorm after noting and editorialising that Angie Motshekga, the minister of basic education doesn't know how to correctly pronounce the word "epitome".
Angie Motshekga mispronounced "epitome" during her speech of the results of the 2015 matric year.
Afterwards Andrew Barnes noted on the Sabido-run TV news channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform that Angie Motshekga doesn't know how to pronounce the word "epitome".
"Maybe someone should have a word with the basic education minister on how to pronounce the word epitome," said Andrew Barnes.
Andrew Barnes apologised on Twitter, writing "my heartfelt apologies for the hurtful comment I made about the Education Minister's English today. You all expect more of me. I'm sorry."
The social media furore was sparked when Esethu Hasane, spokesperson for the department of sport and recreation, posted a video clip on Twitter showing Andrew Barnes' eNCA comment.
"So its fine for eNCA anchors to pronounce African names/words however but they can mock Africans for not pronouncing English words properly," said Esethu Hasane.
eNCA that has covered various social media flare-ups and so-called "Twitter-wars" has so far failed to give coverage to this story that involves eNCA itself.
