Sign language interpreter deemed a 'fake' at Mandela's memorial speaks out. Interpreter: I was hallucinating (925 hits)
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - The man accused of faking sign interpretation next to world leaders at Nelson Mandela's memorial told a local newspaper that he was hallucinating and hearing voices. Thamsanqa Jantjie did not describe his qualifications for being a sign language interpreter, but told The Star he works for an interpreting company that paid him $85 for interpreting Tuesday's event. He told Radio 702 Thursday he's receiving treatment for schizophrenia and had an episode while on stage. Jantjie did not address allegations by sign language experts that he faked interpretation for the Mandela memorial attended by scores of world leaders and broadcast internationally. The Star quoted him as saying: "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."
/* The question is...how'd he get there in the first place security professionals?
Now, one has to wonder, how in the hell did this guy get to be on stage with world dignitaries at all? Would you and I get to stand next to Our Brother at such an event?
I know, it's hard for any Westerner to imagine that something like this could happen but the reality is that in NonWestern Countries things like this can and do happen as it did in S. Africa in fact the same interpreter did it before on a different occasion. Who knows, the guy probably has someone he knows in the Govt.
He looked pretty convincing, I'm with Brother Greg --how did he managed to be front and center at a major event? Interesting indeed.
Thursday, December 12th 2013 at 2:10PM
MIISRAEL Bride
Miisrael,
The first time I traveled outside the States to a nonWestern country, I was baffled at some of the stuff that happens, but truly I'm not shocked about the interpreter. What I'm shocked about is that he was allowed to continue the entire time and now the so-called agency that hired him is MIA! (LoL)
