Reporter: Fans 'dying to see' Linkin Park

Cape Town - eNCA and e.tv sports reporter Lance Witten has apologised for an insensitive tweet following the death of a Linkin Park concertgoer in Cape Town.

One person died and 19 people were injured outside the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday after an advertising board and scaffolding collapsed due to high winds.

At approximately 03:00 on Thursday Witten posted the following update to his Twitter page: 

Linkin Park is so badass, people are dying to see 'em

— Lance Witten (@LanceTheWitten) November 8, 2012

The tweet has since been deleted from his Twitter page, on which Witten describes himself thus: "I make TV happen on @eNCAnews".

Witten received much criticism from followers after posting the tweet, but he insisted that although the incident was "awful", others would have made the same joke.

Actually, if you feel you need to unfollow me because I made a joke people would've made tomorrow, be my guest. What happened was awful.

— Lance Witten (@LanceTheWitten) November 8, 2012

The sports reporter seemed to think his tweet was funny as he believed comedians would be using it as material in the future. He later posted the following update, which was also deleted:

A few months from now, Trevor Noah will use that tweet as a joke on stage

— Lance Witten (@LanceTheWitten) November 8, 2012

At approximately 08:30 on Thursday morning Witten eventually apologised for his tweet.

Tweeps, I have to apologise for that tweet. It was insensitive, in bad taste, and downright stupid.

— Lance Witten (@LanceTheWitten) November 8, 2012

The SA Police Service on Thursday confirmed that Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela has been suspended three weeks after making a controversial reference to prison rape on Twitter, following the murder conviction of hip-hop artist Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye.

Linkin Park have themselves expressed their "heartfelt condolences" to the family of the fan who lost her life outside the stadium and shared their "deep sadness and concern for those injured."

Big Concerts have also released a statement saying the incident was "regrettable" and expressed their "deepest sympathies and condolences to the injured persons and in particular the family of the fan who tragically passed away."

Linkin Park will next perform in Johannesburg at the FNB Stadium, Soccer City Complex, on 10 November.