A supposed sign language interpreter seen on TV around the world in a bizarre episode at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service said he saw angels descending as he worked at the historic event.
He also said he was a schizophrenic with a tendency toward violence.
Thamsanqa Jantjie’s actions spread a pall of embarrassment over one of the most solemn moments in South Africa’s modern history.
Jantjie, 34, gesticulated in what was supposed to be sign language just three feet away from U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders at the packed memorial service.
Outraged deaf people worldwide said his signs amounted to gibberish.
South African officials scrambled Thursday to explain how they came to hire the man and said they were investigating what vetting process, if any, he underwent for his security clearance.
With Mandela lying in state here for a second day as thousands formed lines to pay final respects, the government admitted it had paid a bargain rate for Jantjie to the company that supplied him, which in turn has “vanished into thin air.”
Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, the deputy minister for women, children and people with disabilities, told reporters Jantjie’s first language was Xhosa, one of the most widespread among South Africa’s 11 official tongues.
He is “not a professional sign language interpreter” and “the English was a bit too much for him,” she said.
He was paid just $77 a day — a fraction of the usual rate of between $125 and $164 an hour, said Bogopane-Zulu.
Discussions about Jantjie have dominated South Africa’s airwaves, talk shows and social media.
“What happened that day, I see angels come to the stadium,” he said Thursday. “I start realizing that the problem is here.
“And the problem, I don’t know the attack of this problem, how will it come. Sometimes I get violent on that place. Sometimes I will see things chasing me.”
Jantjie added, “I was in a very difficult position.
“And remember those people, the president and everyone, they were armed, there was armed police around me. If I start panicking, I’ll start being a problem. I have to deal with this in a manner so that I mustn’t embarrass my country.”
Jantjie said he “would like to tell everybody that if I have offended them, please forgive me.
“I was doing what I believe makes a difference in the country.”
