A small, but loud storm has erupted around one of the sign-language interpreters used at late President Nelson Mandela’s memorial service held at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg on 11 December. During the proceedings various signers – from DeafSA, actress Marlee Matlin and others – commented on different social media platforms that they couldn’t understand what he was signing, and that it didn’t resemble anything anyone had ever seen. After a full day of speculation, jokes, red faces and unanswered phone calls, the sign interpreter has come forward to say that his communication breakdown on the day was due to a schizophrenic attack.
Visit our Schizophrenia Page for more information about this mental illness.