Power FM must say sorry to pastor

Lukau claimed show defamatory

Power FM has 10 days to broadcast an apology to Pastor Alph Lukau for misrepresenting him on air.

Lukau complained to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) that a show titled Why we turn to false prophets – Solomon Izang Ashoms focused extensively‚ on Lukau and flouted several broadcasting rules.

He claimed that the show was biased and defamatory.

Some of the alleged defamatory statements included a reference to Lukau having a “covenant with Satan” as well as a reference to the church Alleluia Ministry being a cult.

Lukau, a Congolese televangelist, has a main church based in Sandton and has various branches in the country and throughout Africa.

According to a report in the Sunday Times‚ Lukau has 17 000 members and holds church services in venues as large as the Coca-Cola Dome and the Gallagher Convention Centre. His church spends more than R50 000 a week busing in people from the townships for Sunday services.

Last year he spent more than R3-million on an event at the Coca-Cola Dome‚ where entrance was free‚ the newspaper said.

Lukau, who married President Jacob Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma, enjoys wearing Armani suits and owns a 12-seater jet.

He claimed that God had spoken to him to anoint woman in order to bring them partners.

The complaint to the BCCSA accused the broadcaster of not having given him a chance to respond on the show to accusations made against him.

Power FM‚ however‚ said that the show’s producer had attempted to reach Lukau to give him the right to reply or participate in the show but attempts were unsuccessful. This was denied by Lukau.

The broadcaster was also accused of hate speech‚ attack on dignity and distorting‚ exaggerating and misinterpreting facts.

According to the BCCSA, the matter was set down for a hearing in May‚ but both parties decided to settle the matter.

In the settlement, Power FM agreed that the allegations made by the presenter were not objective and factually incorrect and that it would apologise to the pastor.

The BCCSA also ordered Power FM to publish an apology on its social media platforms.