Pascal Oparada
South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa was close to tears on Tuesday when his iPad, which he brought to an event got stolen on live television.
Ramaphosa, looking sober, pleaded with the thief to kindly return his iPad which contained critical information.
“I am waiting for my iPad. Somebody stole my iPad,” he said as he was called upon to make a speech in an undisclosed event on Tuesday.
Somebody decided that they want to dispose of my iPad. So, I want that. Can I have my iPad, please? he asked.
After a long pause, the president said he had his iPad but momentarily handed it over to someone before it got stolen.
“Do you know where they took my iPad to? This is the problem of always handing out your gadgets to other people. It’s always best that I should keep all these things with me,” he said in a sombre tone.
At the peak of the coronavirus, during a live broadcast, Rmaphosa had difficulty putting on a face mask on live television. The action generated controversy with many saying he was too exhausted.
South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world.
In 2012, a BBC crew was mugged on live television. They were dispossessed of laptops and other belongings. The muggers were later arrested and the items recovered.