Skip to main content

One year on from the death of Nelson Mandela, Thamsanqa Jantjie, the fake sign language interpreter who appeared at the leader's memeorial service, is attempting a change of career

President Barack Obama stands next to the sign language interpreter after making his speech

President Barack Obama stands next to the sign language interpreter after making his speech Photo: AP

In the 12 months since Nelson Mandela died aged 95, South Africa has wrestled with a turbulent year in politics that threatens to derail the former president's legacy.

But for the man who grabbed headlines around the world by appearing to fake the sign language interpretation of Mandela's memorial service, 2014 has been a chance for a change of career.

Thamsanqa Jantjie caused outrage when he stood for hours alongside global leaders making "childish hand gestures" in a bizarre attempt to sign their tributes to the late freedom campaigner.

Deaf groups responded immediately, saying he made no sense in any language and did not seem to know the recognised signs for South Africa, Mr Mandela’s clan name Madiba, President Jacob Zuma or former President Thabo Mbeki.

Sign language experts later attempted to decipher Mr Jantjie's hand waving and he was subsequently barred from working as a sign language interpreter by Deaf South Africa.

It has since emerged that the fake signer has switched to acting, but is struggling to get work with all the negative publicity surrounding his appearance at Mandela's memorial service.

"You can just imagine how difficult it is because interpreting was my future, it was my job. I have to settle for another career ... It's difficult, but men have to do what men have to do," he reportedly told a South African radio station.

"I'm doing adverts and acting. I have to work hard for my kids. I'm not interpreting at all. The Deaf South Africa have stopped me."

In a bid to launch his new career, Jantjie has released a show reel in which he pledges to "make up to the whole world" after his performance at the memorial in December 2013.

"He didn't have any lip pattern. There was no talking through what he was listening to, to be able to back up with the signs," Rachel Hubbard, an expert in sign language from Deaf Umbrella, said of Mr Jantjie at the time.

"Usually when you're signing you're actually thinking about the translation process and the linguistic changeover. So you would either be looking straight ahead of you, or perhaps slightly down, so you're concentrating on what you have to interpret."

 

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Add Reply

Post

Untitled Document
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×