Johannesburg - A freelance camerman, who was arrested and released for sending a flying camera above the Pretoria hospital where former president Nelson Mandela is receiving treatment, has apologised, SABC News reported on Saturday.
FC Hammam told the broadcaster he had no intention of invading Mandela's privacy with his remote controlled camera.
“I thought it would be beautiful material to film from an aerial point of view and to make that material available to the media. I saw it as a business opportunity,” he said.
Hammam was questioned by police for several hours on Friday and then released. His equipment with the footage was confiscated.
Hamman said he flew a multicopter with a camera which was not an uncommon practice for production companies.
“The footage is beautiful and I hope that at some stage the media and public will be able to see it,” he said.
The arrest came after Mandela's eldest daughter, Makaziwe, on Thursday criticised media for the manner in which they covered Mandela's stay in Pretoria's Heart hospital. - Sapa