The official Twitter account for the Presidency of South Africa suffered a major gaffe after the person manning it cursed the fact that they were missing a TV talent show.
The account administrator tweeted out a message expressing disappointment at the fact that it was missing the South African version of international hit reality TV singing contest Idols:
No ad to show here.
OH NO!! I’m missing out on @IdolsSA. I’m far away in another timezone.#sadness
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) July 22, 2012
It then recanted, saying the tweet was down to an administrative error and had not come from the South African president Jacob Zuma, or the office of the presidency:
The last tweet was not an official tweet from The Presidency or the President but rather an administrative error. Our apologies.
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) July 22, 2012
Some railed against the fact that the account was tweeting about such inconsequential matters:
Idols really shouldn’t be your priority RT @PresidencyZA: OH NO!! I’m missing out on @IdolsSA. I’m far away in another timezone.#sadness
— Mike Sharman (@mikesharman) July 22, 2012
Next thing @PresidencyZA will be tweeting about how he missed Khethiwe and #Generations.
— Nchema (@ShottaZee) July 22, 2012
Others took the tweet and its subsequent apology more light-heartedly:
@PresidencyZA Delete the tweet already :”’D !!!
— Mvelo Ncube (@Mvelo_N) July 22, 2012
Distracted by Golf? / @PresidencyZA OH NO!! I’m missing out on @IdolsSA. I’m far away in another timezone. #sadness
— David Clinch (@DavidClinchNews) July 22, 2012
@PresidencyZA what the fuck Zuma?
— baz bailey (@baz_bailey) July 22, 2012
@PresidencyZA Ha ha. We all enjoyed it, nonetheless.
— regrum (@regrum) July 22, 2012
Some even guessed at what had happened before the second tweet was sent out:
“@PresidencyZA: OH NO!! I’m missing out on @IdolsSA. I’m far away in another timezone…” Looks like someone tweeted from the wrong account.
— Tyron Bache (@TyronBache) July 22, 2012
Not a good night to be the presidency’s Twitter account administrator then. Still, it could’ve been worse. The Durex kid could’ve been running the account.
