The bogus sign language interpreter at former president Nelson Mandela’s memorial service on December 10 has been admitted to Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital, The Star reported on Thursday. According to the report, Thamsanqa Jantjie’s wife Siziwe took her husband to the hospital in Krugersdorp for a check-up on Tuesday, where it was suggested he be admitted immediately. “The past few days have been hard. We have been supportive because he might have had a breakdown,” she said. Jantjie was reportedly supposed to have gone to Sterkfontein on December 10 for a check-up.
However, following the offer to interpret at the memorial service held at FNB Stadium in Soweto on the same day, Jantjie contacted the hospital to rearrange the appointment. Last Wednesday, Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said government would investigate claims that Jantjie did not use intelligible sign language. After the memorial Jantjie told various media outlets he had suffered a schizophrenic episode in which he had seen angels, and that he had panicked when he realised he was surrounded by armed police. – SAPA
