This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25345627

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Owners of Mandela 'fake' interpreter firm 'vanish' S Africa investigates 'fake signer' security checks
(about 1 hour later)
The owners of the firm which supplied a "fake" sign language interpreter to the Mandela memorial event have vanished, a South African minister has said. South Africa's deputy disability minister says the government is investigating how a man who faked sign language at the Mandela memorial was given security clearance.
Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu apologised to the deaf community for the poor quality of interpretation given by Thamsanqa Dyantyi from SA Interpreters. Thamsanqa Dyantyi, who stood alongside national and international leaders at the event, has blamed his actions on a schizophrenic episode.
"He is Xhosa speaking. The English was a bit too much for him," she said. He said he had become violent during such episodes in the past.
Mr Dyantyi himself has blamed his flawed interpretation on a schizophrenic episode. The agency who employed him, SA Interpreters, has reportedly vanished.
He also admitted he has been violent in the past. The African National Congress (ANC) has said it has used Mr Dyantyi as an interpreter several times before, and had not been aware of any complaints about his qualifications or health.
During the memorial, Mr Dyantyi was employed to stand on the stage next to key speakers such as US President Barack Obama and Mr Mandela's grandchildren, translating their eulogies. But it said Tuesday's memorial at a stadium in Johannesburg was organised by the state, not the ANC, so the ruling party could not comment on security arrangements.
But the minister denied there was a security issue, saying the interpreter had been properly accredited. The South African Translators' Institute earlier said there had been complaints over Mr Dyantyi's work before, but that the ANC had taken no action.
'No embarrassment'
Mr Mandela died last week at the age of 95, and will be buried on Sunday.Mr Mandela died last week at the age of 95, and will be buried on Sunday.
His body is currently lying in state in Pretoria, with thousands queuing to pay their respects.His body is currently lying in state in Pretoria, with thousands queuing to pay their respects.
'No embarrassment' During the memorial, Mr Dyantyi stood on the stage next to key speakers including US President Barack Obama, South African President Jacob Zuma and Mr Mandela's grandchildren, translating their eulogies.
Ever since Tuesday's event, pressure has been mounting on the government to explain why Mr Dyantyi was hired for such an important event. Mr Dyantyi's performance was watched on television by millions of people worldwide and angered the South African deaf community. Pressure has been mounting on the government to explain why he was hired for such an important event.
During a press conference, Ms Bogopane-Zulu, the deputy minister for women, children and people with disabilities, admitted that a mistake had been made but said there was no reason for the country to be embarrassed. Deputy Disability Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu told a news conference on Thursday that the interpreter had been properly accredited and there was no security concern.
"There are as many as a hundred sign language dialects," she said, to explain the difficulties he faced. But she said: "In terms of security clearance that is in a process, we are requesting to check his vetting.
"He started well and later he became tired. Guidelines say we must switch interpreters every 20 minutes." "But normally when you do provide a service at a particular level you will be vetted and as you could see he had his accreditation, so he didn't just walk through."
She did not rule out employing him in some circumstances again. She apologised to the deaf community but said there was no reason for the country to be embarrassed.
But she accused Mr Dyantyi's employers, SA Interpreters, of being cheats, and said the company's directors had now vanished into thin air. "There are as many as a hundred sign language dialects," she said, explaining that Mr Dyantyi speaks Xhosa and that "the English was a bit too much for him".
Mr Dyantyi's performance was watched on television by millions of people worldwide. She did not rule out employing him in some circumstances again but accused Mr Dyantyi's employers of being cheats, and said the directors had of SA interpreters had since vanished.
Mr Dyantyi himself has blamed his flawed interpretation on a schizophrenic episode. He also admitted he has been violent in the past.
He said that during the event, he had lost concentration because of voices in his head.He said that during the event, he had lost concentration because of voices in his head.
He said he had started hallucinating, and saw angels coming into the stadium.He said he had started hallucinating, and saw angels coming into the stadium.
"I was in a very difficult position," he said."I was in a very difficult position," he said.
He also indicated that his past behaviour had sometimes been unpredictable, telling the Associated Press news agency that "sometimes I will react violent on this place, sometimes I will see things chasing me".He also indicated that his past behaviour had sometimes been unpredictable, telling the Associated Press news agency that "sometimes I will react violent on this place, sometimes I will see things chasing me".
Mr Dyantyi's performance at the memorial provoked anger among South Africa's deaf community.
During the broadcast, Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen, the country's first deaf female MP, tweeted: "ANC-linked interpreter on the stage with dep president of ANC is signing rubbish. He cannot sign. Please get him off."
It appears that Mr Dyantyi has worked for the ANC before, as footage from two big ANC events last year show him signing on stage next to President Jacob Zuma.
The South Africa's Translators' Institute said there had been complaints over Mr Dyantyi's work before, but the ruling party had taken no action.
Final journeyFinal journey
After Mr Mandela's body has lain in state for three days, the military will fly him to the Eastern Cape from Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria. Mr Mandela's body is lying in state until the 13 December, when the military will fly the coffin to the Eastern Cape from Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria.
A military guard of honour will welcome the arrival, and the coffin will then be placed on a gun carriage and transported to a hearse.A military guard of honour will welcome the arrival, and the coffin will then be placed on a gun carriage and transported to a hearse.
Mr Mandela's body will then be taken to his home village of Qunu, where the Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony.Mr Mandela's body will then be taken to his home village of Qunu, where the Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony.
A national day of reconciliation will take place on 16 December when a statue of Mr Mandela will be unveiled at the Union Buildings.A national day of reconciliation will take place on 16 December when a statue of Mr Mandela will be unveiled at the Union Buildings.
Big screens have been set up across South Africa to show the planned national events.Big screens have been set up across South Africa to show the planned national events.