Nelson Mandela dead at 95
- Thread starter JLM
- Start date
That's a possibility.I think he's posting in a different forum from the one we are in...
My mistake. I should have started a new thread re the fake sign language guy at the Mandela memorial.
South Africa admits error over 'schizophrenic' Mandela signer
Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo, Reuters
First posted: Thursday, December 12, 2013 04:26 AM EST | Updated: Thursday, December 12, 2013 06:34 PM EST
JOHANNESBURG - A South African sign-language interpreter accused of miming nonsense as world leaders paid tribute to Nelson Mandela defended himself as a "champion" signer on Thursday, but said he suffered a schizophrenic episode during the event.
The interpreter, 34-year-old Thamsanqa Jantjie, told Johannesburg's Star newspaper he started hearing voices and hallucinating while on stage, resulting in gestures that made no sense to outraged deaf people around the world.
"There was nothing I could do. I was alone in a very dangerous situation. I tried to control myself and not show the world what was going on. I am very sorry. It's the situation I found myself in," he told the paper.
The government admitted Jantjie was not a professional interpreter but played down security concerns at his sharing the podium with world leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama at the memorial on Tuesday.
"He was procured. He did not just rock up," Deputy Disabilities Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu told a news conference. "Did a mistake happen? Yes. He became overwhelmed. He did not use the normal signs. We accept all that."
After the memorial, South Africa's leading deaf association denounced him as a fake, making up gestures to be put into the mouths of Obama and his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma.
Jantjie said he did not know what triggered the attack and said he took medication for his schizophrenia.
Besides the security issues, the controversy has cast a shadow over South Africa's 10-day farewell to its first black president, who died a week ago aged 95.
It also heaps more pressure on Zuma, who is fighting a slew of corruption allegations against him and his administration and who was booed by the crowd on Tuesday.
Footage from two large African National Congress (ANC) events last year shows Jantjie signing on stage next to Zuma, although the ruling party said it had no idea who he was.
COMPANY "VANISHED"
In a radio interview, Jantjie said he was happy with his performance at the memorial.
"Absolutely, absolutely. I think that I've been a champion of sign language," he told Johannesburg's Talk Radio 702.
When contacted by Reuters, he said he could not understand why people were complaining now, rather than after other events. "I'm not a failure. I deliver," he said.
The publicity surrounding Jantjie's unconventional gestures - experts said he did not know even basic signs such as "thank you" or "Mandela" - sparked a frenetic hunt for him and his employers.
Jantjie said he worked for a company called SA Interpreters, hired by the ANC for Tuesday's ceremony at Johannesburg's 95,000-seat Soccer City stadium.
Attempts by Reuters to track down the company were unsuccessful. Bogopane-Zulu said its management had fled the glare of publicity, with the suggestion that it had been providing sub-standard interpreters for some time.
"We managed to get hold of them, and then we spoke to them wanting some answers and they vanished into thin air," she said. "It's a clear indication that over the years they have managed to get away with this."
The death of Nobel peace laureate Mandela has led to an outpouring of grief and emotion, combined with celebration and thanksgiving, among his 53 million countrymen and millions more around the world.
Thousands more mourners queued to say goodbye to Mandela in Pretoria, although that too has not been without its problems.
In the absence of sufficient drinking water and toilets, several people passed out on Wednesday, and on Thursday social media reports said some mourners had photographed Mandela's body, defying the wishes of his family and the government.
But the Department of State Security said in a statement that a purported photograph of Mandela's remains was a fake and urged people to delete it. It said there were no plans to release an official photograph of Mandela lying in state.
His body will lie in state for a third day on Friday before being flown to the Eastern Cape to be buried on Sunday at his ancestral home in Qunu, 700 km (450 miles) south of Johannesburg.
A South African sign language interpreter accused of gesticulating gibberish as world leaders paid tribute to Nelson Mandela defended himself as a "champion" signer. (REUTERS)
South Africa admits error over 'schizophrenic' Mandela signer | World | News | Toronto Sun
Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo, Reuters
First posted: Thursday, December 12, 2013 04:26 AM EST | Updated: Thursday, December 12, 2013 06:34 PM EST
JOHANNESBURG - A South African sign-language interpreter accused of miming nonsense as world leaders paid tribute to Nelson Mandela defended himself as a "champion" signer on Thursday, but said he suffered a schizophrenic episode during the event.
The interpreter, 34-year-old Thamsanqa Jantjie, told Johannesburg's Star newspaper he started hearing voices and hallucinating while on stage, resulting in gestures that made no sense to outraged deaf people around the world.
"There was nothing I could do. I was alone in a very dangerous situation. I tried to control myself and not show the world what was going on. I am very sorry. It's the situation I found myself in," he told the paper.
The government admitted Jantjie was not a professional interpreter but played down security concerns at his sharing the podium with world leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama at the memorial on Tuesday.
"He was procured. He did not just rock up," Deputy Disabilities Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu told a news conference. "Did a mistake happen? Yes. He became overwhelmed. He did not use the normal signs. We accept all that."
After the memorial, South Africa's leading deaf association denounced him as a fake, making up gestures to be put into the mouths of Obama and his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma.
Jantjie said he did not know what triggered the attack and said he took medication for his schizophrenia.
Besides the security issues, the controversy has cast a shadow over South Africa's 10-day farewell to its first black president, who died a week ago aged 95.
It also heaps more pressure on Zuma, who is fighting a slew of corruption allegations against him and his administration and who was booed by the crowd on Tuesday.
Footage from two large African National Congress (ANC) events last year shows Jantjie signing on stage next to Zuma, although the ruling party said it had no idea who he was.
COMPANY "VANISHED"
In a radio interview, Jantjie said he was happy with his performance at the memorial.
"Absolutely, absolutely. I think that I've been a champion of sign language," he told Johannesburg's Talk Radio 702.
When contacted by Reuters, he said he could not understand why people were complaining now, rather than after other events. "I'm not a failure. I deliver," he said.
The publicity surrounding Jantjie's unconventional gestures - experts said he did not know even basic signs such as "thank you" or "Mandela" - sparked a frenetic hunt for him and his employers.
Jantjie said he worked for a company called SA Interpreters, hired by the ANC for Tuesday's ceremony at Johannesburg's 95,000-seat Soccer City stadium.
Attempts by Reuters to track down the company were unsuccessful. Bogopane-Zulu said its management had fled the glare of publicity, with the suggestion that it had been providing sub-standard interpreters for some time.
"We managed to get hold of them, and then we spoke to them wanting some answers and they vanished into thin air," she said. "It's a clear indication that over the years they have managed to get away with this."
The death of Nobel peace laureate Mandela has led to an outpouring of grief and emotion, combined with celebration and thanksgiving, among his 53 million countrymen and millions more around the world.
Thousands more mourners queued to say goodbye to Mandela in Pretoria, although that too has not been without its problems.
In the absence of sufficient drinking water and toilets, several people passed out on Wednesday, and on Thursday social media reports said some mourners had photographed Mandela's body, defying the wishes of his family and the government.
But the Department of State Security said in a statement that a purported photograph of Mandela's remains was a fake and urged people to delete it. It said there were no plans to release an official photograph of Mandela lying in state.
His body will lie in state for a third day on Friday before being flown to the Eastern Cape to be buried on Sunday at his ancestral home in Qunu, 700 km (450 miles) south of Johannesburg.
A South African sign language interpreter accused of gesticulating gibberish as world leaders paid tribute to Nelson Mandela defended himself as a "champion" signer. (REUTERS)
South Africa admits error over 'schizophrenic' Mandela signer | World | News | Toronto Sun
Nelson Mandela’s alleged love children come forward
WENN.com
First posted: Tuesday, February 11, 2014 08:56 AM EST | Updated: Tuesday, February 11, 2014 09:13 AM EST
The families of two women claiming to be Nelson Mandela's secret daughters have contacted the executors of his estate in a bid to win legal acknowledgement of their parentage.
The team looking after Mandela's estate following his death in December has received a legal letter from Onica Mothoa and relatives of Mpho Pule, who died in 2009, asking for their alleged links to the late civil rights icon to be made official.
However, Michael Katz, a lawyer for the executors, has revealed the claimants are not seeking a share of Mandela's inheritance, which will be divided out between his widow and descendants.
Katz says of the legal bid, "They made the claim that they are descendants of Madiba (Mandela). They indicated that this wasn't a monetary claim."
Mothoa has told South Africa's The Star newspaper she wants a DNA test to prove Mandela was her father and insists her claim is not about money: "I know the Mandela family have always believed that I was being opportunistic because I wanted a share in the inheritance. That's not true. I just want them to acknowledge that Mandela is my father. No amount of millions can buy the identity of a person. It is very important even for my children, as well as my grandchildren, to know who they are."
Mandela is said to have fathered six children during his lifetime and he left a fortune of around $4 million following his death.
Nelson Mandela’s alleged love children come forward | World | News | Toronto Sun
WENN.com
First posted: Tuesday, February 11, 2014 08:56 AM EST | Updated: Tuesday, February 11, 2014 09:13 AM EST
The families of two women claiming to be Nelson Mandela's secret daughters have contacted the executors of his estate in a bid to win legal acknowledgement of their parentage.
The team looking after Mandela's estate following his death in December has received a legal letter from Onica Mothoa and relatives of Mpho Pule, who died in 2009, asking for their alleged links to the late civil rights icon to be made official.
However, Michael Katz, a lawyer for the executors, has revealed the claimants are not seeking a share of Mandela's inheritance, which will be divided out between his widow and descendants.
Katz says of the legal bid, "They made the claim that they are descendants of Madiba (Mandela). They indicated that this wasn't a monetary claim."
Mothoa has told South Africa's The Star newspaper she wants a DNA test to prove Mandela was her father and insists her claim is not about money: "I know the Mandela family have always believed that I was being opportunistic because I wanted a share in the inheritance. That's not true. I just want them to acknowledge that Mandela is my father. No amount of millions can buy the identity of a person. It is very important even for my children, as well as my grandchildren, to know who they are."
Mandela is said to have fathered six children during his lifetime and he left a fortune of around $4 million following his death.
Nelson Mandela’s alleged love children come forward | World | News | Toronto Sun
Group apologizes for auctioning a night in Mandela’s cell
Associated Press
More from Associated Press
Published:
July 6, 2018
Updated:
July 6, 2018 10:44 AM EDT
In this file photo taken on December 13, 2013, a candle burns in the former cell of Nelson Mandela during a visit of a group of activists, religious leaders and former prisoners (unseen) at Robben Island, Cape Town, for an all night vigil to commemorate Nelson Mandela, who was a prisoner on the island during the Apartheid era. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)
JOHANNESBURG — A South African organization that was auctioning off a night in Nelson Mandela’s prison cell has apologized and removed the event from its website.
The CEO SleepOut raises money for the homeless and had offered the highest bidder a night in the cell on Robben Island, where the anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner spent 18 years.
Bids had begun at $250,000 for the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
In this file photo taken on December 13, 2013 a candle burns in the former cell of Nelson Mandela during a visit of a group of activists, religious leaders and former prisoners (unseen) at Robben Island, Cape Town, for an all night vigil to commemorate Nelson Mandela, who was a prisoner on the island during the Apartheid era. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)
The auction raised an outcry among some in South Africa, with a Robben Island Museum spokeswoman telling local media there had been no agreement to use the cell.
“So brazenly in bad taste, there are no words,” local photographer Victor Dlamini said on Twitter.
A statement offers “sincere apologies” but the organization’s website says the Robben Island event has been postponed, not cancelled.
http://torontosun.com/news/world/group-apologizes-for-auctioning-a-night-in-mandelas-cell
Associated Press
More from Associated Press
Published:
July 6, 2018
Updated:
July 6, 2018 10:44 AM EDT
In this file photo taken on December 13, 2013, a candle burns in the former cell of Nelson Mandela during a visit of a group of activists, religious leaders and former prisoners (unseen) at Robben Island, Cape Town, for an all night vigil to commemorate Nelson Mandela, who was a prisoner on the island during the Apartheid era. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)
JOHANNESBURG — A South African organization that was auctioning off a night in Nelson Mandela’s prison cell has apologized and removed the event from its website.
The CEO SleepOut raises money for the homeless and had offered the highest bidder a night in the cell on Robben Island, where the anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner spent 18 years.
Bids had begun at $250,000 for the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
In this file photo taken on December 13, 2013 a candle burns in the former cell of Nelson Mandela during a visit of a group of activists, religious leaders and former prisoners (unseen) at Robben Island, Cape Town, for an all night vigil to commemorate Nelson Mandela, who was a prisoner on the island during the Apartheid era. (RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty Images)
The auction raised an outcry among some in South Africa, with a Robben Island Museum spokeswoman telling local media there had been no agreement to use the cell.
“So brazenly in bad taste, there are no words,” local photographer Victor Dlamini said on Twitter.
A statement offers “sincere apologies” but the organization’s website says the Robben Island event has been postponed, not cancelled.
http://torontosun.com/news/world/group-apologizes-for-auctioning-a-night-in-mandelas-cell
Non-story.
Clinton’s auctioned a night in Lincoln’s bedroom in the WH and not a werd.
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