U.S. President Barack Obama addresses the crowd while the ‘interpreter’ stands next to him

After reading this story I just laid my head down on my desk, sighed and then laughed.

MADNESS!

Via The Independent

The sign language interpreter used by the African National Congress during Nelson Mandela’s memorial service at Johannesburg FNB football stadium yesterday was a fake, it has been claimed today.

Bruno Druchen, the national director of the Deaf Federation of South Africa said the unnamed man seen on television next to leaders such as US President Barack Obama “was moving his hands around but there was no meaning in what he used his hands for.”

Three sign language experts said the man was not signing in South African or American sign languages. South African sign language covers all of the country’s 11 official languages, according to the federation. It is not yet known if the unidentified man was using a different method to communicate.

Braam Jordaan, a deaf South African and board member of the World Deaf Federation, also said he believed the interpreter was creating his own signs as he went along.

He joined others who have taken to Twitter to claim the interpreter was not using a recognised South African sign language.

Mr Jordaan told the SBS news website: “I was really upset and humiliated. He made up his own signs.

“What happened at the memorial service is truly disgraceful thing to see – it should not happen at all.  Continue Reading….

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NO NO NO there has to be a perfectly logical explanation for this mess.

Hahahahahahaha.