Australian newspaper The Advertiser mistakenly tweeted on Friday that gunmen had attacked a hotel in South Africa, instead of one in Mali.
Meanwhile, the Department of International Relations and Co-operation could not be immediately reached to comment on whether any South Africans were affected in the Mali attack.
The Advertiser earlier tweeted: "Jihadists launch shooting rampage and take hostages in South Africa".
Several users then tweeted that South Africa and Mali are two different countries. "Mali is a long way from South Africa - you might need a map!" tweeted one.
Almost an hour later it put out a tweet saying: "Correcting previous Tweet: Jihadists launch shooting rampage and take hostages in Africa."
According to reports, at least 170 people were taken hostage at the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako. Some were freed after they apparently recited verses of the Qur'an.
Reportedly, three hostages have been killed.
Source: News24
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