Mandela ceremony interpreter was 'fake'

The unidentified man seen along with several heads of state “was moving his hands around but there was no meaning in what he used his hands for."

In this December 10 photo, US President Barack Obama waves as he arrives to speak at the memorial service for former South African president Nelson Mandela at the FNB Stadium in the Johannesburg, South Africa township of Soweto. South Africa's deaf federation said on Wednesday that the interpreter on stage (right) for Mandela memorial was a 'fake'. Photo: AP

The national director of the Deaf Federation of South Africa says a man who provided sign language interpretation on stage for Nelson Mandela’s memorial service, attended by scores of heads of state, was a “fake.” Asked about the claim by The Associated Press, South Africa’s government said it is preparing a statement.

Three sign language experts said the man was not giving any signs in South African or American sign languages. South African sign language covers all of the country’s 11 official languages, according to the federation. It wasn’t immediately clear if the unidentified man was using a different method to communicate.

The unidentified man seen around the world on television next to leaders like U.S. President Barack Obama “was moving his hands around but there was no meaning in what he used his hands for,” said Bruno Druchen, the federation’s national director.

Nicole Du Toit, an official sign language interpreter who also watched the broadcast, said in a telephone interview that the man on stage purporting to sign was an embarrassment.

“It was horrible, an absolute circus, really really bad,” she said. “Only he can understand those gestures.”

South African parliament member Wilma Newhoudt, a member of the ruling party who is deaf, also said the man communicated nothing with his hand and arm movements. AP interviewed both Mr. Druchen, who also is deaf, and Mr. Newhoudt by telephone using an interpreter.