As world leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama delivered their eulogies for former South African president and human rights champion Nelson Mandela on Tuesday in Johannesburg, the rest of the world, especially the deaf community, noticed that a man who was officially appointed to translate the speeches into sign language was not making any sense and was just flapping his arms around.
The interpreter, identified as Thamsanqa Jantjie, was criticized on Twitter as the memorial service took place.
"Shame on this male so called interpreter on the stage. What is he signing? He knows that the deaf cannot vocally boo him off. Shame on him," tweeted Wilma Newhoudt, the World Federation of the Deaf's vice president and first ever deaf person to be elected to the parliament of South Africa.
Shame on this male so called interpreter on the stage. What is he signing? He knows that the deaf cannot vocally boo him off. Shame on him !
— wilma newhoudt (@newhoudt) December 10, 2013
The national director of the Deaf Federation of South Africa, Bruno Peter Druchen, was also very vocal in condemning the alleged fraudster on social media. "Please get RID of this CLOWN interpreter, please," he posted on his Twitter account accompanied by a picture to identify Jantjie.
Please get RID of this CLOWN interpreter,please! pic.twitter.com/ziAZ4KBFNZ — Bruno Peter Druchen (@BrunoDruchen) December 10, 2013
The local media was able to reached out to the purported fake sign language interpreter and Jantjie explained what happened. According to the man, who caught almost as much attention as the world leaders who came to attend the memorial, he had an episode of schizophrenia. Jantjie revealed that he has been taking medication for the illness but he was overwhelmed by emotions while on stage, and had triggered it.
Jantjie told the South African media outlet Johannesburg Star's iOLNews that he started hearing voices and hallucinating while trying to interpret what the speakers were saying.
"There was nothing I could do. I was alone in a very dangerous situation. I tried to control myself and not show the world what was going on. I am very sorry, it's the situation I found myself in. Life is unfair. This illness is unfair. Anyone who doesn't understand this illness will think that I'm just making this up," said the 34-year-old interpreter in an interview with Johannesburg Star.
Jantjie said he works with SA Interpreters and has interpreted for high profile clients such as South African President Jacob Zuma.
The government is investigating the matter.
