Johannesburg - A load-shedding schedule titled “n***a” lit up Twitter on Monday, leaving City Power officials red-faced.
The document, posted on the City Power Twitter page at about 10am on Monday to alert consumers to imminent power cuts, immediately attracted ridicule and anger.
“You want me to download a PDF called n***a to check the load shedding schedule?” asked @TreviLePere.
@GugsM tweeted: “@CityPowerJhb The use of a racial slur is ‘less than diplomatic’, while @Grant_za asked: “So @CityPowerJhb who decides on your load shedding schedule names?”
City Power sprung to action about an hour later, offering an apology, which was swiftly scoffed at.
“City Power would like to express its profound regret at the post which was twitted earlier, titled in a less than diplomatic manner,” read the tweet posted at 11.25am.
Some suggested the Joburg power utility should stop being twits and invest in a proper public relations team.
@kharti said: “@CityPower Jhb the only twits are you”.
City Power said the title of the document had been an error and the employee had reported it to his superior as soon as he realised he had released it.
“It was not racism at all, but a genuine mistake. He has been reprimanded and an apology has been put out,” spokesman Sol Masolo said.