As the surreal facts and fictions surrounding Nelson Mandela's death grow (as hundreds breached security and flooded his coffin), the story of the "fake" interpreter goes from the sublime to the ridiculous. eNCA is reporting [3] that Thamsanqa Jantjie - who stood mere feet away from the world's leaders (and waved his hands like a muppet) is being treated for schizophrenia, has also faced rape (1994), theft (1995), house-breaking (1997), malicious damage to property (1998), murder, attempted murder and kidnapping (2003) charges. Many of the charges brought against him were dropped, allegedly because he was mentally unfit to stand trial.
Via eNCA, [3]
The man now known by many as the ‘fake interpreter’, stood just a foot away from world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, who is one of the most heavily protected men on the planet.
...faced a murder charge in 2003.
...It’s unknown if the case was ever concluded as the court file is mysteriously empty.
eNCA's investigations have found that Thamsanqa Jantjie, who is being treated for schizophrenia, has also faced rape (1994), theft (1995), housebreaking (1997), malicious damage to property (1998), murder, attempted murder and kidnapping (2003) charges.
Many of the charges brought against him were dropped, allegedly because he was mentally unfit to stand trial.
Jantjie was acquitted on the rape charge, but he was convicted of theft for which he was sentenced to three years in prison. It’s unclear if he ever spent time in jail.
...
During the memorial, it emerged on social media networks that Jantjie wasn’t a properly qualified sign language interpreter and that his signing during that historic event didn’t make any sense.
The story went global and Jantjie was portrayed as a joke.
But this story took a serious turn when eNCA established he was mentally ill.
Jantjie admitted that he was heavily medicated for schizophrenia and has spent time at the Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital.
But apart from that... we are sure his mom says he is really good boy...