Interpreter had ‘schizophrenic episode’

A South African sign language interpreter accused of miming nonsense as world leaders paid tribute to Nelson Mandela defended himself as a “champion” signer, but said he suffered a schizophrenic episode during the event.

Thamsanqa Jantjie, aged 34, told Johannesburg’s Star newspaper he started hallucinating and hearing voices while on stage, resulting in gestures that made no sense to outraged deaf people around the world.