Nelson Mandela interpreter Thamsanqa Jantjie ‘faced murder charge in 2003’ (Picture: AFP/Getty)

A sign language interpreter accused of making up hand signals at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service faced a murder charge in 2003, it has emerged.

Thamsanqa Jantjie, who claims he ‘suffered a schizophrenic episode’ at the memorial, also faced charges of attempted murder, kidnap and theft.

According to eNCA, a 24-hour news broadcaster based in South Africa, many of the charges were dropped as Jantjie was deemed ‘mentally unfit to stand trial’.

The murder case was referred to a South African high court in 2004, but the court file was later found to be empty.


South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority confirmed the existence of the case but could not confirm how it was finalised.

Nelson Mandela died aged 95 (Picture: EPA)

Meanwhile, a South African cabinet minister has apologised for the actions of the interpreter, who outraged deaf people worldwide.



In the highest-ranking apology yet from the South African government, arts and culture minister Paul Mashatile said reforms must be implemented to ensure such an incident never happens again.

Jantjie, who admitted he had been violent in the past, said he hallucinated as he was gesturing incoherently next to speakers, including president Jacob Zuma and US president Barack Obama.