Unathi Msengana and the SABC have escaped with a reprimand for dropping a huge f-bomb during the South African Music Awards show.

Despite being found guilty of contravening two clauses in the Broadcasting Code, the Metro FM presenter got a slap on the wrist for introducing the rapper AKA's performance with Jack Parrow - using AKA's own lyrics - saying he is "the one that motherf***ers should solve but don't". The show was broadcast live on SABC1.

Although many fans in the Sun City Superbowl enjoyed Msengana's antics, many TV viewers were offended. Viewers wrote to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa to express their disapproval.

One complainant wrote: "My whole family was watching and I just could not believe my eyes."

In response, the SABC said artists had been briefed about foul language, but seem to have been caught off-guard, as Msengana was a presenter. The SABC apologised and said it would "most certainly" have removed the clip if it had not been a live show.

Msengana said she had made the producer of the show aware of her intention to use the word, and was given the green light because the team anticipated she would only be on stage when the watershed period kicked in.

She then said her contravention of clauses 6 and 7 of the broadcasting code had been "inadvertent".

Clauses 6 and 7 of the BCCSA code relate to audiences likely to include a lot of children.

Channel representatives denied giving permission, laying the blame squarely on the Sama live broadcast team. They promised Msengana would be disciplined.