This is now getting ridiculous. Thamsanqa Jantjie, the 34 year old sign language interpreter who stood on the high stage at Nelson Mandela’s Memorial Service to throw his hands about as if he was doing justice to what was being said has come out to explain why his total ‘fakery’
It emerged yesterday that, Thamsanqa Jantjie who signed for a portion of the televised event at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium was simply making up his own signs and the deaf people who were relying on him to understand what was being said were totally LOST as to what he was doing.
Explaining what happened, Thamsanqa Jantjie has said while he was on the big stage, he got a Schizophrenia and begun to hallucinate—so was hearing so many voices…
What an idiot!
According to Sky News;
A “fake” sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service has reportedly said he suffered a schizophrenic episode.
Thamsanqa Jantjie, who was criticised for apparently making “meaningless gestures” while interpreting the speeches of world leaders on stage, said he takes medication for the condition.
He said he did not know whether it was the scale of the event or the happiness he felt about being involved that triggered the episode.
The 34-year-old, who was pictured signing next to the likes of US President Barack Obama, claimed he suddenly lost concentration and started hearing voices and hallucinating.
He also had visions of angels coming into the stadium and was trying not to panic because there were “armed policemen around me”.
Mr Jantjie said the episode impaired his ability to hear things properly and interpret what was being said, but he did not feel able to leave so continued to sign words and phrases that did not make sense.