Sign of the times: Mandela event interpreter was ‘fake’

A man who appeared to provide sign language interpretation on stage for Nelson Mandela’s memorial service, attended by scores of heads of state, was a “fake”, the national director of the Deaf Federation of South Africa said.

South Africa’s deaf community accused the interpreter of being a fake, who had merely flapped his arms during speeches.

“He’s a complete fraud,” said Cara Loening, director of Sign Language Education and Development in Cape Town.