Fake Deaf Signer at Mandela Ceremony

The man giving a sign language interpretation to the world at Nelson Mandela's memorial service was a fake whose gestures meant nothing, it has been revealed. Bruno Druchen, the national director of the Deaf Federation of South Africa, said the unnamed man seen on television next to leaders like US President Barrack Obama "was moving his hands around but there was no meaning in what he used his hands for." South African MP Wilma Newhoudt, a member of the ruling party, also said the man communicated nothing with his hand and arm movements. Both Mr Druchen and Ms Newhoudt are deaf. 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. Nicole Du Toit, an official sign language interpreter who also watched the broadcast, said that the man on stage purporting to sign was an embarrassment."It was horrible, an absolute circus, really really bad," she said. "Only he can understand those gestures."