ANC responsible for Fake Sign Language Interpreter at Nelson Mandela’s Funeral, South Africa – 10/12/2013
The Irish Deaf Society has united with the Deaf Federation of South Africa in outrage at the appearance of an unqualified and unrecognised sign language interpreter at the funeral of Nelson Mandela on Tuesday.
The IDS places the responsibility on the South African ANC government for their part in the management of arrangements for the event.
The DFSA director Bruno Druchen confirmed that the interpreter was not using South African Sign Language, adding that he “has made a mockery of South African Sign Language and has disgraced the South African Sign Language interpreting profession”.
The unrecognised ‘fake’ interpreter stood next to South African President Jacob Zuma and American president Barack Obama during their speeches as he feigned to translate their words into sign language for the Deaf South African population. The event raises the issue of security as well as professional vetting breaches that deceit can lead to an unknown individual being granted access to two world leaders on a globally broadcast stage.
Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen, the first deaf woman to be elected to the South African Parliament took to Twitter to expose the imposter and to direct accountability towards the African National Congress Party for their fundamental role in the blunder before ending “He cannot sign. Please get him off.”
The controversy comes as an insult to the Deaf community in South Africa, with IDS CEO Peter Regan contributing that “it is an unfortunate irony that a celebration of the life of Mandela, who epitomises Equality and Human Rights, is blemished by the blatant ignorance of one man.”
The interpreter can be seen in videos online at other ANC events including an appearance alongside President Jacob Zuma at the ANC Centenary Celebrations in Bloemfontein in January 2012.